“Abusive” Work Environment: Disney Hit With Lawsuit from Disabled Ex-CM

An ex-World of Disney Cast Member is suing Disney for discrimination and an “abusive” work environment, as excerpted from a longer statement; the lawsuit for lack of proper accommodations for the plaintiff’s disability on the part of Disney was filed last week.

Perhaps it comes with the territory of being one of the biggest household names in the world, but the Walt Disney Company, often on behalf of the Disney Parks, for better or for worse, is frequently on the receiving end of lawsuits. Earlier this year, we reported on another case wherein a disabled Guest suffered a fatal fall at the Southern California Disneyland Resort,  after an incident at the Jungle Cruise Disney Park attraction, due to which her family sued the Mouse House.

A resident of Maryland, twenty-three-year-old Morgan Schoepfer, is suing the Mouse House for failing to accommodate her disabilities and then “retaliating” when she complained about the discrimination. The ex-Cast Member has been diagnosed with multiple health issues, including cerebral palsy, Crohn’s disease, Gastroparesis, and Colonic Dysmotility—a condition that results in the plaintiff needing to use the bathroom frequently.

The lawsuit against Disney based on disability discrimination began with Scheopfer’s job at the World of Disney store. Reportedly she requested special accommodations to sit in a chair and rest every 30 minutes, access the bathrooms, and not lift objects heavier than ten pounds.

In the lawsuit, Schopfer claims that Disney failed on these counts; she was occasionally sent to work on the sales floor, wasn’t always allowed access to a chair, and carried boxes to the stock room. In September, the plaintiff became dizzy from standing too long, collapsed, and suffered a severe seizure that resulted in her needing to go to the hospital.

Schoepfer’s attorney, Brett Kaplan, told Florida Politics, “We intend to prove that Disney subjected Ms. Schoepfer to an abusive environment because of her disabilities. We commend Ms. Schoepfer—a disability advocate in her own right—for coming forward and sharing her experience. We look forward to presenting our client’s claims in court, and, ultimately, holding the Defendant accountable.”¯

The case itself has been officially filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, U.S., Inc, and requests a jury.

You can follow how this case develops here.