In a compelling legal battle that could have significant implications for workplace accommodations, a former employee has taken on a corporate giant over allegations of disability discrimination. Ramona Emilia Peralta filed a lawsuit against Amazon.com Services LLC in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on November 20, 2024. The complaint accuses Amazon of multiple violations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), including disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and wrongful termination.
Peralta's lawsuit details her employment with Amazon from July 14, 2022, until her termination on August 2, 2024. During her tenure, Peralta disclosed her disability to Amazon and requested reasonable accommodations. Initially met with compliance from the company, the situation deteriorated when management changes led to a failure in providing necessary accommodations. Peralta recounts an incident where an area manager provided an inappropriate stool instead of a chair as per her doctor's note. Despite repeated requests and documentation presented to supervisors like Jonathan Devlin and Lizette Zamora, the necessary adjustments were not made.
The plaintiff alleges that this oversight was not merely administrative but retaliatory in nature. On March 25, 2024, Amazon communicated via email about approving Peralta's accommodation request; however, discrepancies remained unresolved even after several follow-ups by Peralta. By July 28, 2024, communication errors persisted with emails incorrectly stating "stool" instead of "chair," which she claims exemplifies Amazon's negligence or intentional disregard for her needs.
Ultimately terminated on August 3, 2024—effective immediately—Peralta asserts that her dismissal was directly linked to her insistence on receiving fair treatment and appropriate workplace adjustments. She cites specific provisions under FEHA that protect employees from retaliation for requesting such accommodations.
Peralta seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress caused by these alleged discriminatory practices. Her complaint also demands punitive damages against Amazon for their purportedly unlawful actions and attorneys' fees incurred during this legal process.
Represented by Manny Starr from Frontier Law Center based in Calabasas, California, Peralta has filed this case under Case No. 2024CUOQE033521 before the Ventura Superior Court. The outcome could set precedents regarding employer responsibilities towards disabled employees and reinforce legal protections under FEHA.