Source: http://www.williamgoren.com/blog/2015/05/05/applicability-title-ii-ada-employment/?replytocom=480594
Timestamp: 2020-06-05 03:24:04
Document Index: 487911473

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504', '§ 504']

There is a related question that arises which is whether § 504 applies to employment at all? While I have not yet read the Second Circuit decision, I came across a Supreme Court case, Conrail v. Darrone, 465 U.S. 624 (1984), which might explain how you can reach a conclusion that if a public entity has less than 15 employees, § 504 would apply. In Conrail, the United States Supreme Court said that it “is unquestionable that section [§ 504] was intended to reach employment discrimination. Indeed, enhancing employment of the handicap was so much the focus of the 1973 legislation that Congress the next year felt it necessary to amend the statute to clarify whether § 504 was intended to prohibit other types of discrimination as well.” The court also noted that the language of § 504 was such that the bar on employment discrimination should apply to any program receiving federal aid regardless of whether the purpose of that aid was to promote employment. Further, the court also said, “application of § 504 to all programs receiving federal financial assistance fits the remedial purpose of the Rehabilitation Act to promote and expand employment opportunities for the handicapped.” Finally, the court said that it would not be appropriate to interpret regulations so that the regulations, “silently adopted a drastic limitation on the handicapped individual’s right to sue federal grant recipient for employment discrimination.”
In light of this decision, it makes perfect sense that a court could say that for public entities of less than 15 employees, § 504 would apply but not for public entities of 15 employees or more, which is what is required to be subject to title I of the ADA. Such a conclusion comports with the majority view discussed in this main blog entry and also comports with Conrail. I am excited about reading the Second Circuit decision to find out whether this is the approach they took. Finally, keep in mind that Conrail is a pre ADA decision and that nevertheless, Conrail could also be read to say that § 504 applies to employment regardless of the number of employees involved.