Desrosiers v. Diageo North America, Inc.

Summary

The court held that Connecticut's employment-discrimination statute protects employees whom an employer regards as physically disabled, even though the statute's definition of physical disability refers to an individual who has a physical impairment. The court relied on the bizarre result that a literal interpretation would produce, the statute's broad remedial purpose, legislative history, and the longstanding reasonable interpretation of the enforcing agency. It also held that the plaintiff's pleadings and affidavit created a genuine issue of material fact concerning whether the defendants perceived her as physically disabled. The judgment was therefore reversed in part and remanded for further proceedings on that claim.