Woman sues Cabell County Community Services Organization for discrimination

HUNTINGTON -- A woman is suing Cabell County Community Services Organization for discriminating against her because she is deaf.

On July 12, 2010, Christina Ball applied for a job with the defendant for various positions with which she was qualified with reasonable accommodations, according to a complaint filed Aug. 1 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Ball claims after submitting her application she was called for an interview and was interviewed by a representative of the defendant in person via written notes with the interviewer.

During the interview, Ball was told by a written note from the interviewer that she would not be hired because she could not hear, according to the suit.

Ball claims she asked to keep the notes from the interview, but the interviewer refused to return them to her.

The defendant's actions were willful, wanton and carried out with reckless disregard for the rights of the plaintiff, according to the suit.

Ball claims the defendant violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act by not hiring her because she is deaf.

Ball is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Kristina Thomas Whiteaker and David L. Grubb.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 11-C-540