While finding stops short of disability discrimination, US clothing giant gets a black eye for treatment

Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, August 14, 2009 with story from The Telegraph
Riam Dean, although photogenic, abercrombie and fitch has a prosthetic arm and contended she was dismissed because of her disability.
The tribunal awarded Dean about $15,000 US ($9,000 British pounds) for loss of employment, wrongful dismissal, harassment and hurt feelings. The tribunal stopped short of making the award for disability discrimination.
Riam Dean awarded damages
Riam Dean awarded damages
abercrombie and fitch are developing a reputation for discrimination which should harm their sales.
abercrombie and fitch proclaimed their innocence of the disability discrimination charges which carry heavier penalties both by law and bad public relations. Their lawyer issued a press release saying, “We are pleased that the Tribunal found that A&F did not discriminate against Ms. Dean on grounds of her disability and also found that A&F provided Ms. Dean with the accommodation she requested… We were happy to employ Ms. Dean, and we have always been, and will continue to be, supportive of the rights of disabled individuals.”
The tribunal heard testimony that “on July 4, Maria Barbera, one of her managers, told her: “I can’t have you on the shop floor as you are breaking the look policy, immediately go to the stockroom.” Telegraph.co.uk
Dean, then a law student and now an articling student at law, filed a complaint with the central London employment tribunal.abercrombie and fitch
Dean, speaking through her mother after the ruling, appears pleased with the results.