The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case in January concerning disability rights and health insurance benefits for retired employees. The case involves Karyn Stanley, a former firefighter lieutenant in Sanford, Florida, who retired early due to Parkinson’s disease.
Stanley is challenging the city’s decision to terminate her health insurance subsidy two years after her retirement in 2018. She argues that this policy change, which reduced benefits for employees who retire early due to disability, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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The case centers on a key question: Can former employees sue under the ADA for discrimination in post-employment benefits? The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Stanley, citing a precedent that limits ADA protections to current employees.
However, Stanley’s case has garnered significant support, with the Biden administration, labor unions like the AFL-CIO and the International Association of Fire Fighters, and advocacy groups like AARP filing briefs in her favor. They argue that the ADA should protect retirees from discrimination in benefits earned during their employment.
Stanley’s attorneys emphasize the importance of this case for those who become disabled while serving their communities. “Lt. Stanley served as a firefighter for nearly two decades, risking life and limb to protect her community,” her brief states. “The benefits she seeks to protect were earned through years of dedicated, dangerous service.”
The City of Sanford maintains that Stanley did not meet the service requirements for receiving the full health insurance subsidy. They argue that she received a two-year subsidy out of compassion for her disability, a benefit not afforded to non-disabled retirees with similar service time.
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The Supreme Court’s decision in this case could have far-reaching implications for disability rights and access to healthcare for retired employees across the country. Oral arguments are scheduled for January 13th, with a decision expected later in the year.
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