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Direct Threat Defense Under The Ada: Posing A Threat To The Protection Of Disabled Employees, The, Rene L. Duncan

Missouri Law Review

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed with intentions of eliminating stereotypes and fear towards disabled individuals and their ability to function and contribute to society. In the employment context, the Act will not permit an employer to refuse to hire an individual solely because of that person's disability. However, it will permit the employer to defend such action when limitations caused by an individual's disability rise to the level of a direct threat to the safety of others. When an employer raises such a defense, circuit courts are split as to whether the burden of proving the existence or …