Seyfarth Synopsis: The Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) not only provides protection to
individuals who have physical or mental impairments, but to
individuals an employer may perceive to have such impairments.
These cases can be challenging for employers to defend, and the
recent Sixth Circuit case, Babb v. Maryville Anesthesiologists,
P.C., demonstrates how failure to appropriately
identify and communicate about an employee's perceived (or
actual) impairment can create obstacles to a successful
defense.
Maryville Anesthesiologists employed Paula Babb as a Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). About a month into her
employment with Maryville, one of its physician-owners, Dr.
Coleman, noticed that Babb was placing her face usually close to a
computer screen at work. Babb explained to Dr. Coleman that she
suffered from a degenerative eye condition. While it meant she had
to hold medical records close to her eyes to read them, Babb
assured Dr. Coleman
