Baltimore Casino and Caesars to Pay $150K Over Fired Dealer's Heart Attack

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and its parent company, Caesars Entertainment, have agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former blackjack dealer who was terminated after suffering a heart attack while working a night shift. The settlement was approved on Tuesday, November 3, by U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson.

The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleged that the casino violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by firing the dealer shortly after he experienced a heart attack during his shift. The complaint also claimed the termination amounted to retaliation for the employee seeking medical treatment or accommodations.

Under the terms of the settlement, the $150,000 will be paid directly to the former dealer. In addition to the monetary payment, the casino has agreed to implement policy changes and provide training on disability discrimination and reasonable accommodations. These measures aim to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The case highlights ongoing legal scrutiny of how employers handle medical emergencies in the workplace, particularly when those emergencies involve sudden cardiac events. Federal law generally protects employees from adverse actions linked to a disability or perceived disability, including conditions arising from a heart attack.

Neither Horseshoe Casino Baltimore nor Caesars Entertainment admitted liability as part of the settlement. Representatives for the casino and the EEOC have not commented further on the approved agreement.