ST. LOUIS - Boeing recently removed the lawsuit of a man claiming disability discrimination to federal court.
Douglas Dowling filed his lawsuit in August St. Louis County Circuit Court, and the company removed it to St. Louis federal court on Dec. 1.
According to the lawsuit, Dowling, an employee of Boeing as a mechanic, has had a prosthetic leg since 2016 due to a motor vehicle accident. On Jan. 7, 2020, his superintendent Ronnie Imm informed Dowling's shift that if anyone was interested in transferring to a different job within the company, he would assist with the request completion.
Dowling informed Imm he wanted to be transferred back to F15 line due to the physical issues he was experiencing because of his leg, at which time Imm became visibly upset and stormed away, the suit says.
On Jan. 8, 2020, Imm told Dowling and another employee he was still looking for a spot for the transfer then told the two to do a job that maintenance is responsible for, the suit says. A union rep asked what the two were doing and was directed to Imm, who explained the two were being punished and under investigation, the suit says. Dowling says he eventually sought medical attention due to pain from exceeding his lift limit.
Dowling says months later, he was given a task that required going up and down stairs and was later told he failed that assignment by not keeping inspection notes.
Dowling says he inputted the notes and asked for a re-evaluation but instead he was suspended on May 11, 2020. In June, his suspension was lifted but he was punished for not wearing a mask and creating a disruptive work environment, the suit says. Dowling says these incidents show a pattern of discrimination against him.
Dowling is represented by Megen I. Hoffman of St. Louis.