Stanley v. City of Sanford: Disability Discrimination and Retiree Benefits
A Notebook LM review of a June 2025 United States Supreme Court opinion concerning a firefighter, Karyn Stanley, who sued the City of Sanford, Florida, alleging discrimination under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) after her disability forced her into early retirement and reduced her health insurance benefits. The majority opinion affirms that to be protected under ADA Title I, an individual must be a "qualified individual" who holds or desires a job and can perform its essential functions at the time of the alleged discrimination. This means retirees, no longer holding or seeking employment, are generally not covered for post-employment discrimination. However, the Court also explores how some discrimination claims related to retirement benefits might still proceed if the discriminatory act or becoming subject to it occurred while the individual was still a "qualified individual" and employed. A concurring opinion criticizes the petitioner's shift in argument, while a dissenting opinion argues that the Court's interpretation of "qualified individual" is too narrow and undermines the ADA's purpose of protecting against disability discrimination in retirement benefits earned during employment.
