Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, et al., v. Patricia Garrett, et al. (531 U.S. 356)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided February 21, 2001 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 531 U.S. 356 · 121 S. Ct. 955
- Decided
- February 21, 2001
- Term
- October Term 2000
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority author
- Justice Rehnquist
- Issue area
- Federalism
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
- Constitutional ruling
- Federal law held unconstitutional
Opinion excerpt
CHIEF Justice Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the Court. We decide here whether employees of the State of Alabama may recover money damages by reason of the State’s failure to comply with the provisions of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA or Act), 104 Stat. 330, 42 U. S. C. §§ 12111-12117. We hold that such suits are barred by the Eleventh Amendment. The ADA prohibits certain employers, including the States, from “discriminat[ing] against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability of such individual in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.” §§ 12112(a), 12111(2), (5), (7). To this end, the Act requires employers to “mak[e] reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless [the employer] can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the [employer’s] business.” § 12112(b)(5)(A). “ ‘[Reasonable accommodation’ may include— “(A) making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and (B) job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant…
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