District of Columbia Jury Instruction - 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim

• Category: Federal - Jury Instructions - Adverse Employment Action
• State: Multi-State
• Control #: US-11CF-1-5-2
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form contains sample jury instructions, to be used across the United States. These questions are to be used only as a model, and should be altered to more perfectly fit your own cause of action needs.

District of Columbia Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim refers to a specific type of legal instruction provided to a jury in a court case related to discrimination and reasonable accommodation claims under the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. This instruction guides the jury on how to evaluate and assess a claim made by the plaintiff regarding the failure to provide reasonable accommodation in the workplace or other covered settings. Reasonable accommodation refers to the obligation of employers and other covered entities to make appropriate modifications or adjustments for individuals with disabilities, religion, or pregnancy-related conditions, in order to enable them to perform their job duties or access public accommodations. The District of Columbia Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim outlines the necessary elements and factors to consider in determining the validity and liability in such claims. The jury is instructed to evaluate whether the plaintiff has established four key elements to prove a reasonable accommodation claim: 1. First, the plaintiff must demonstrate that they have a qualifying disability, religious belief, or pregnancy-related condition as defined under the District of Columbia Human Rights Act. 2. Second, the plaintiff must show that they requested reasonable accommodation from the defendant or employer. This request should be communicated clearly, either verbally or in writing, to the employer's authorized representative or supervisor. 3. Third, the jury must assess whether the requested accommodation was reasonable and necessary for the plaintiff to perform their job duties or access public accommodations. Factors to consider include the nature of the accommodation, its feasibility, the impact on the employer's operations, and potential undue hardship. 4. Finally, the plaintiff should demonstrate that the defendant or employer refused to provide the requested reasonable accommodation, or failed to engage in an interactive process in good faith to determine suitable accommodations. Additionally, there might be variations or types of District of Columbia Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claims, depending on the specific protected category under which the claim is made. For instance, variations may exist for disability-related accommodation claims, religious accommodation claims, or pregnancy-related accommodation claims. In disability-related accommodation claims, the jury instruction may include specific elements related to the necessity of the accommodation due to the disability, potential alternatives that were considered but not provided by the defendant, or any unjustified adverse impact resulting from the failure to accommodate. Similarly, in religious accommodation claims, the jury instruction may focus on the reasonableness of the requested accommodation in relation to the religious belief, any available alternatives that wouldn't impose undue hardship on the defendant, and whether the defendant made good faith efforts to reasonably accommodate the plaintiff's religious practices. Lastly, pregnancy-related accommodation claims may involve considerations such as the impact of the requested accommodation on the plaintiff's ability to carry out their job duties, whether comparable accommodations were provided to other employees in similar situations, and whether the defendant's actions violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. In conclusion, the District of Columbia Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim provides comprehensive guidance to the jury, helping them understand the essential elements and factors involved in evaluating claims related to failure to provide reasonable accommodation. Variations of this instruction may exist based on the specific protected category under which the claim is filed, such as disability-related, religious, or pregnancy-related accommodation claims.