SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
AND
THE CITY OF NORTH KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
- The parties to this Agreement are the United States of
America and the City of North Kansas City, Missouri.
- The United States of America is referred to hereinafter as
the "United States." The City of North Kansas City, Missouri is
referred to hereinafter as the "North Kansas City." Mr. Michael
D. Day is referred to hereinafter as "Mr. Day." The Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission is referred to hereinafter as
the "EEOC." Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq., is referred to
hereinafter as the "ADA."
The parties hereby agree as follows:
FACTUAL AND JURISDICTIONAL BACKGROUND
- On February 3, 2000, Mr. Michael Day filed a charge with the
EEOC, charge No. 281 A0 0442, alleging that North Kansas City
discriminated against him on the basis of disability in violation
of the ADA. Specifically, Mr. Day alleges that he met or
exceeded the qualifications for a firefighter/paramedic vacancy
at the North Kansas City Fire Department but he was rejected for
the position because he has insulin-dependent diabetes. The
undisputed facts show that at the end of the testing and
interview process Mr. Day was the top-ranked applicant and had
been approved for employment as a firefighter/paramedic by North
Kansas City's own medical examiner. At the time he applied,
Mr. Day was working as a firefighter/paramedic at the neighboring
South Metro Fire Department.
- On March 23, 2000, the EEOC issued its determination that
there was reasonable cause to believe that the North Kansas City
Fire Department had violated the ADA. The EEOC found that the
North Kansas City Fire Department had violated the ADA by
requiring Mr. Day to undergo a medical examination prior to a
conditional offer of employment and that it also failed to hire
Mr. Day because of his disability. After conciliation efforts
between the North Kansas City and the EEOC failed, the EEOC
referred Mr. Day's charge to the Department of Justice with a
recommendation that it file suit.
- The ADA applies to North Kansas City because it is a person
within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 12111(7) and an employer within
the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 12111(5)(a).
- The United States alleges that North Kansas City violated
Title I of the ADA by failing to hire Mr. Day, a qualified
individual with a disability, based upon his disability, Insulin
Dependent Diabetes.
GENERAL AGREEMENT
- The parties have determined that their respective interests
can be met without engaging in protracted litigation to resolve
this dispute and have therefore voluntarily entered into this
Agreement.
- North Kansas City agrees that it will abide by all of the
requirements of the ADA, including making hiring decisions in a
non-discriminatory manner. It also agrees not to make any
disability-related inquiries or require medical examinations of
applicants before a conditional offer of employment has made to
those applicants.
- North Kansas City also specifically agrees, that it will not
discriminate in violation of the ADA on the basis of disability,
including against qualified individuals with Insulin Dependent
Diabetes. Rather, it will evaluate all applicants on an
individualized case-by-case basis, and make hiring decisions in a
nondiscriminatory manner.
SPECIFIC RELIEF TO BE OFFERED BY NORTH KANSAS CITY
- On or before December 21, 2000, North Kansas City will offer
to pay $60,000.00 to Mr. Day as compensation for all losses
sustained as a result of North Kansas City's alleged actions.
- North Kansas City will send a copy of this Agreement and
Exhibits 1 and 2 attached hereto to counsel for Mr. Day. Exhibit
1 provides that in order to accept the relief offered, Mr. Day
must return an executed RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS (Exhibit 2) to
North Kansas City in care of its counsel within (30) days of
Mr. Days' receipt of those documents.
- North Kansas City will send to the United States a copy of
Exhibits 1 and 2 when they are sent to Mr. Day. If Mr. Day
accepts North Kansas City's offer to pay $60,000.00, North Kansas
City will pay Mr. Day within fifteen (15) days of receipt of his
signed RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS.
NOTIFICATION
- North Kansas City will notify the United States when it has
completed the actions described in paragraphs 10-12. If Mr. Day
accepts North Kansas City's offer to pay $60,000.00, North Kansas
City will provide the United States with a copy of the check and
transmittal letter sent to him.
- Within ninety (90) days of receiving from North Kansas City
a copy of the offer letter to be sent to Mr. Day by North Kansas
City according to this Agreement, the United States will issue to
Mr. Day a notice of right to sue on EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 12117(a) and 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1).
IMPLEMENTATION
- The Attorney General is authorized, by Section 107(a) of
Title I, 42 U.S.C. § 12117(a), to institute a civil action
against a state or local government employer when the EEOC has
determined that there is reasonable cause to believe that a
charge of employment discrimination is true, and the EEOC has
been unable to obtain an acceptable conciliation agreement.
These preconditions exist as to EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442. In
consideration for the offer of relief to Mr. Day, as set forth
above, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice will
not institute any civil action alleging employment discrimination
on the basis of EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442 filed by Mr. Day.
OTHER PROVISIONS
- The Department of Justice may institute a civil action in
the appropriate U.S. District Court to enforce this Agreement, if
the United States believes that this Agreement or any of its
provisions has been violated. The United States may review
compliance with this Agreement at any time. If the United States
believes that this Agreement or any portion of it has been
violated, it will raise its concern(s) with North Kansas City and
the parties will attempt to resolve the concern(s) in good faith.
The United States will give North Kansas City twenty-one (21)
days from the date it notifies North Kansas City of any breach of
this Agreement to cure that breach, prior to instituting an enforcement action.
- Failure by the United States to enforce this entire
Agreement or any of its provisions shall not be construed as a
waiver of its right to do so with regard to other provisions of
this Agreement.
- A signatory to this document in a representative capacity
for either party represents that he or he is authorized to bind
that party to this Agreement.
- This Agreement is a public document and constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties on the matters raised
herein.
EFFECTIVE DATE/TERMINATION DATE
- The effective date of this Agreement is the date of the last
signature below.
For the City of North Kansas City, Missouri:
By:________________________________ Dated:____________
on behalf of the City of North
Kansas City, Missouri
2010 Howell
Kansas City, Missouri 64116
For the United States of America:
Bill Lann Lee
Assistant Attorney General
for Civil Rights
By:__________________________________ Dated:____________
John L. Wodatch, Chief
L. Irene Bowen, Deputy Chief
Eugenia Esch, Attorney
Alyse S. Bass, Attorney
Disability Rights Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 66738
Washington, D.C. 20035-6738
(202) 514-3816
EXHIBIT 1
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Michael D. Day
c/o Mr. Anthony A. Stein
4739 Belleview, Suite 304
Kansas City, Missouri 64112
Re: DJ# 205-43-09, Michael Day v. North Kansas City Fire
Department, EEOC Charge No. 281 A0 0442
Dear Mr. Day:
The United States and the City of North Kansas City,
Missouri have entered into a Settlement Agreement with the intent
of resolving the above-captioned matter. A copy of the
Settlement Agreement is enclosed.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, North Kansas City
offers you payment of $60,000.00, which shall be considered
compensatory in nature.
In order to accept North Kansas City's offer to you, you
must communicate your acceptance to North Kansas City by
executing the enclosed RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS and by returning it
to them within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this letter.
You must send your RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS by mail to:
Ms. Jana Richards
Sanders, Conkright & Warren
10450 Holmes, Suite 330
Kansas City, Missouri 64131
As set forth in paragraphs 14 and 15 of the Settlement
Agreement, the United States will, within ninety (90) days after
it receives a copy of this letter, issue to you a notice of your
right to sue on EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442. In consideration
for the offer of relief to you, as set forth in the Settlement
Agreement, the Attorney General has agreed not to institute a
civil action alleging employment discrimination on the basis of
EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442 filed by you. If you accept the
relief being offered to you pursuant to the Settlement Agreement,
and so signify your acceptance by executing the enclosed RELEASE
OF ALL CLAIMS, you will thereby agree not to exercise your right
to file suit on that charge.
If you have any questions concerning the Settlement
Agreement, you may call or write to the following attorney at the
U.S. Department of Justice:
Eugenia Esch
Alyse S. Bass
Disability Rights Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 66738
Washington, D.C. 20035-6738
(202) 514-3816
Sincerely,
Jana Richards, Counsel
Enclosures
EXHIBIT 2
RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
For and in consideration of the acceptance of the relief
offered to me by the City of North Kansas City, Missouri pursuant
to a Settlement Agreement between the United States of America
and the City of North Kansas City, Missouri:
I, Michael D. Day, release and discharge the City of North
Kansas City, Missouri and its current, former, and future agents,
employees, officials, and designees, of and from all legal and
equitable claims, known at this time, related to my application
for employment with the City of North Kansas City, Missouri or
EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442 which I filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on or about February 3, 2000. I
further agree that I will not exercise my right to institute
against the above entities any civil action alleging employment
discrimination on the basis of EEOC charge No. 281 A0 0442, or
any of the facts alleged therein.
I understand that the payment offered to me does not
constitute an admission by the City of North Kansas City of the
validity of any claim raised by me or on my behalf.
I acknowledge that a copy of the Settlement Agreement
between the City of North Kansas City, Missouri and the United
States of America resolving the matter between them has been made
available to me.
I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AND UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS THEREOF
AND I EXECUTE THIS RELEASE OF MY OWN FREE ACT AND DEED.
Signed this ______ day of _________________, 2001.
___________________________________
Michael D. Day
Social Security Number ____________
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
____________ day of _____________, 2001.
________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires on: ________________________________