Key facts
- SHRM was found liable for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act.
- A jury awarded $400,000 in compensatory damages to the plaintiff.
- The lawsuit stemmed from SHRM revoking a job offer to a candidate who wanted to bring her medical service dog to work.
- SHRM stated it offered multiple other accommodations to the applicant.
- This is the second time SHRM has been found liable in an employment-related lawsuit in less than a year.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has been found liable for mishandling a job applicant's request for a disability accommodation, according to a legal filing posted Tuesday. A jury on Friday awarded the plaintiff $400,000 in compensatory damages, ruling against SHRM on all counts related to violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act. No punitive damages were awarded.
SHRM, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, stated in a release that it disagrees with the verdict and is evaluating its appellate options. The organization argued that the verdict could set a precedent that undermines the interactive process required by the ADA. "We are evaluating all appellate options to protect not just our own position, but the operational rights of HR departments and employers nationwide," SHRM said.
Plaintiff Fiona Torres alleged that SHRM revoked a job offer in July 2024 for a senior specialist role because she requested to bring her medical service dog to work. Torres stated the dog could detect changes in her blood-sugar levels. SHRM, in a January court filing, countered that it offered Torres multiple other accommodations, including the use of her continuous glucose monitoring system and insulin pump, and breaks as needed.
This marks the second employment-related lawsuit verdict against SHRM in less than a year. In December, a jury awarded $11.5 million against the organization in an unrelated race discrimination and retaliation case. SHRM has appealed that decision.