Petco settles with deaf groomer over harassment case

From The Denver Post:

A deaf pet groomer who worked in Aurora will receive payment in a harassment case.

The former staffer at a Petco Animal Supplies store in Aurora claimed she was victimized by other Petco employees because she was deaf. She will be paid $145,000 as part of a settlement between Petco and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the EEOC said in a news release Tuesday.

The woman, Nancy Buchner, was born deaf. Buchner worked as a pet groomer for three decades and communicated primarily by sign language, according to the EEOC.

In 2001, she was hired as a pet stylist by Petco.

Petco was aware of her deafness and allegedly assured Buchner that other employees would assist her in scheduling appointments by telephone, according to the EEOC.

But according to allegations in court documents filed in Denver federal court by the EEOC and Dale Gaar, Buchner's civil lawyer, the working atmosphere around Buchner became toxic. Buchner resigned in 2006.

In the consent decree between Petco and the EEOC, Petco denied all of the allegations.

Petco spokesman Kevin Whalen said the company disagreed with the accusations but was happy a settlement had been reached.

The company said it was entering the consent decree to provide monetary relief to Buchner; ensure that Petco employment practices comport with federal law; ensure that Petco managers, supervisors and employees are given training on their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act; and ensure that Petco provides qualified individuals with disabilities "reasonable accommodations."

The company also noted it wanted to avoid the time, expense and uncertainty of further litigation.