EEOC Sues American Airlines for Job Bias

American Airlines Inc., the No. 2 U.S. carrier, has been accused in a civil suit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of discriminating against disabled job applicants. In a suit filed in federal court in Rhode Island, the EEOC alleged that American, a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., regularly made unlawful medical inquiries of prospective employees. The suit contends that American refused to hire a qualified applicant for a ramp clerk/cabin cleaner post because of his mental disability. The EEOC said questioning by the airline’s medical department during an employee drug test revealed that the applicant was being treated for a mental disability. Such questioning is improper, the EEOC said. The suit seeks back wages and damages for the applicant, as well as others who may allege that they suffered similar bias. AMR shares fell 19 cents to close at $33.38 on the NYSE.