SAN FRANCISCO - Anderson Stokes filed a federal complaint on November 1 in the Northern District of California against Walgreens Co. for alleged disability discrimination.
According to the complaint, in December 2019 or January 2020, Stokes applied for a customer service position at which time he disclosed his disability. On February 3, 2020, Stokes accepted a job offer after having an in-person interview at which the interviewer could see Stokes' wheelchair.
Walgreens then allegedly rescinded the job offer. Stokes again applied at Walgreens on Aug. 16, 2020, at a different location and went in for an interview on Aug. 19, 2020. A male manager arrived and looked Stokes “up and down” and the two then had a conversation about his ability to move without a wheelchair, the suit says.
Stokes informed the manager he was able to walk a few feet with crutches, the suit says. The manager asked how long Stokes would be in the wheelchair, at which time Stokes informed the manager that he did not know, the suit says. The manager told Stokes he could not accommodate him due to the wheelchair and would not hire him, the suit claims.
Stokes is represented by Scott S. Nakama of Ladva Law Firm.
U.S. District Court Northern District of California case number 4:21-cv-08488-SK