EEOC Lawsuit Over Bias Against Deaf Nurse Headed For Trial

Federal judge denies summary judgment, allowing discrimination case to proceed.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:35pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life featuring a stethoscope, medical gloves, and an 'ADA' nameplate arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the abstract concepts of disability rights and workplace discrimination.A legal battle over disability accommodations in the healthcare industry could set an important precedent for deaf and hard-of-hearing workers.Baltimore Today

A federal judge has denied summary judgment in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit alleging that GBMC Healthcare Inc. and Greater Baltimore Medical Center Inc. violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by rescinding a job offer to a deaf nurse after she requested reasonable accommodations.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing challenges that deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals face in securing employment, even in healthcare fields where their skills and experience could be valuable. The outcome could set an important legal precedent around employer obligations to provide accommodations.

The details

The EEOC argued that the nurse was qualified for the position and could have performed the essential functions with reasonable accommodations, but the employer failed to engage in the interactive process and instead rescinded the job offer. The judge found there were genuine disputes of material fact around these key issues that must be resolved at trial.

  • The lawsuit was filed by the EEOC in 2025.

The players

EEOC

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination.

GBMC Healthcare Inc.

A health care company that allegedly rescinded a job offer to a deaf nurse.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center Inc.

A health care company that allegedly rescinded a job offer to a deaf nurse, along with GBMC Healthcare Inc.

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What’s next

The case will now proceed to trial, where a jury will determine if the employer violated the ADA.

The takeaway

This lawsuit underscores the importance of employers engaging in good-faith efforts to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, rather than simply rejecting them outright.