US Airways, Inc. v. Barnett

Robert Barnett (plaintiff), after injuring his back as a cargo handler, used his seniority to transfer to a less strenuous mailroom job at US Airways (defendant); when employees with greater seniority later sought to bid for that same position under the airline's seniority system, Barnett asked US Airways to make an exception and let him keep the job as a disability accommodation. US Airways declined, and Barnett lost the position. Barnett sued under the ADA, and the district court granted summary judgment to US Airways, but the court of appeals reversed.