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The attorneys listed below are interested in talking with any current or
former blind or print disabled employees or applicants from the Marriott
hotel chain. The attorneys represent a group of blind or print
disabled persons who were denied advancement or other employment
opportunities because of Marriott’s use of inaccessible computer software
and its failure to reasonably accommodate persons using JAWS and other
screen readers. Please liberally share this notice and the below
press release with your networks so we can get the message out to those
blind persons who might benefit from participating in this class
action.<br><br>
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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
</b>Contact: Jinny Kim, 415-864-8848,
<a href="mailto:jkim@las-elc.org">jkim@las-elc.org</a>,
<a href="http://www.las-elc.org/" eudora="autourl">www.las-elc.org<br>
</a>
Timothy Elder, 410-415-3493,
<a href="mailto:telder@trelegal.com">telder@trelegal.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.trelegal.com/" eudora="autourl">www.trelegal.com</a>
<b> <br><br>
<div align="center">LAWSUIT CLAIMS MARRIOTT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST BLIND
EMPLOYEES<br>
CLASS ACTION SEEKS EQUAL ACCESS TO PROMOTIONS, COMPUTER SOFTWARE<br><br>
</b></div>
(SAN DIEGO, CA, <b>February 6, 2013</b>) – Today, the Legal Aid Society –
Employment Law Center (LAS-ELC) and TRE Legal filed a class action
lawsuit in federal court against Marriott, alleging that the hotel giant
discriminates against blind and disabled employees by requiring its
managers to use inaccessible computer software and rejecting accessible
alternatives. <br><br>
Ali Faraj is a blind Marriott employee who has been excluded from
advancement to a management position with Marriott based on the hotel
chain’s requirement that managers use a Sales Force Automation (SFA)
software program by the Oracle Corporation called Siebel CRM (Customer
Relation Management). Despite requests, Marriott has refused to
configure or modify its SFA software so that disabled persons such as Mr.
Faraj who use screen-reading software can serve as managers. <br><br>
Mr. Faraj has worked for the Marriot hotel chain since 2005, and is
currently an Event Billing Specialist at the San Diego Marriott
Marquis. Like other blind employees of Marriott, Mr. Faraj uses
computers by relying on JAWS screen reader software, a program that
translates computer text into audible speech or refreshable Braille
data. JAWS enables blind people and others with reading and print
disabilities to access documents and digital information on computers and
thus become productive and independent workers. <br><br>
“I have a B.A. in Hospitality Business, and more than ten years of
experience in the industry, including my nearly eight successful years
with Marriott. I want to advance,” said Mr. Faraj. “But
Marriott managers keep telling me that I cannot be promoted into a
position requiring use of Siebel CRM. That’s not fair.” <br><br>
He added that a Marriott HR manager has acknowledged that he is more
qualified than other candidates placed by Marriott into management.
<br><br>
The lawsuit alleges that there are nondiscriminatory alternatives to
Marriott’s current software system, including replacing Siebel CRM with
alternative, JAWS-accessible SFA software, updating and upgrading the
existing Seibel CRM software to make it JAWS-accessible system-wide, and
adding individualized modifications or scripts to the existing Seibel CRM
software to make it JAWS-accessible to particular individuals.<br><br>
“Marriott contends that it would cost more than $1,000,000 to fix the
problems,” said Timothy Elder, a principle of TRE Legal and an attorney
for Mr. Faraj. “That is just not the case. One solution would
cost less than $50,000 and would open up competitive employment
opportunities for many blind and disabled Marriott workers. <br><br>
Mr. Elder further disputed that the fix would impose an undue hardship on
the company. According to reports, Marriott International had
revenues of $12.3 billion for 2011, and has assets worth $5.9 billion;
Host Marriott has assets totaling $11.3 billion.<br><br>
In recent months, Marriott has expanded the Seibel CRM software
configuration, integrating additional computer programs into the
inaccessible platform. This expansion further threatens the
employment opportunities of Mr. Faraj and other blind and disabled
employees by reaching additional jobs at Marriott. <br><br>
“The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from using
selection criteria and methods of administration that exclude persons
with disabilities,” said Jinny Kim, senior staff attorney with LAS-ELC
and counsel for Mr. Faraj. “This case seeks to dismantle
unnecessary barriers created by an employer’s technology.” <br><br>
The class action lawsuit requests a determination from the court that
Marriott is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a
court order requiring Marriott to make the required changes to its
software system and related policies on behalf of a class of affected
workers. The case also seeks damages and other relief for Mr.
Faraj. <br><br>
Lawyers on the case are interested in speaking with any Marriott employee
who uses screen-reading software. They may also be contacted to set
up telephone interviews with Mr. Faraj. <br><br>
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<b>About the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center
|
</b><a href="http://www.las-elc.org">www.las-elc.org</a><br>
Founded in 1916, the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center protects the
rights and economic self-sufficiency of working poor people and
marginalized communities by providing free legal services, education, and
advocacy. Using the law as a tool, we help low-wage workers create the
best possible future for themselves and their families.<br><br>
<b>About the TRE Legal Practice |
<a href="http://www.trelegal.com">www.trelegal.com<br>
</a></b>Founded by attorney Timothy Elder, TRE Legal is a civil rights
law firm fighting discrimination against disabled people and specializing
in the rights of the blind to access employment, education, government
programs, public accommodations, accessible technology and all
other aspects of society.<br>
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