Tennessee Police Officer Sues - Claims Denied Job Over HIV status

[Jim Allen]

https://www.advocate.com/law/hiv-police-officer-lawsuit-tennessee

By Rebekah Riess

(CNN) — A Tennessee police officer has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, claiming “unlawful denial of employment” because of his HIV status, according to the complaint filed Friday in federal court.

The plaintiff, who is a current police officer with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and only identified as “John Doe,” is challenging the legality of what he describes as Nashville’s policy of not employing someone with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a police officer. The lawsuit argues the policy constitutes a violation of federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act.

In February 2020, the officer received a job offer from Nashville police on the condition that he pass a medical exam, but when his blood work tested positive for HIV, it was rescinded, according to the complaint.

[Jim Allen]

Update:

POZ.com article in full: https://www.poz.com/article/nashville-agreed-rewrite-policies-disqualifying-hivpositive-police-candidates

In brief:

The city of Nashville agreed to update its civil service policies to no longer automatically disqualify individuals from serving as a police officer or first responder because of their HIV status, according to a recent legal settlement.

In the settlement, Nashville agreed to pay $145,000 to a former Memphis police officer living with HIV, identified as John Doe, and rewrite its civil service medical examiner’s policies, which previously required all Metropolitan Nashville police officer candidates to meet the physical requirements for admission to the U.S. Army or Navy.

[leatherman]

good news!

[numbersguy82]

Def progress! TN is soooo backwards, but their cops are usually friendly. I had a good experience with one of their state troopers, who almost arrested me back while I was in high school.

I wish this claimant had received more that just 100k so they would have felt more of a sting where it counts!

[leatherman]

I wish this claimant had received more that just 100k so they would have felt more of a sting where it counts!

i feel that about many legal judgments. Corporations and organizations are rarely actually "punished" by civil judgments and any policy changes are often short-lived

[Tonny2]

                ojo.          Sorry, sorry for the question, did he get us a settlement and his job?. If he just got a settlement that’s not good. My humble opinion… Hugs