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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Abercrombie Loses Lawsuit Over Clerk's Prosthetic Arm

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(Newser) – The London woman banished to the Abercrombie & Fitch stockroom because of her prosthetic arm has been awarded more $13,000 by an employment tribunal, the BBC reports. Riam Dean wore a cardigan to cover the joint between her prosthesis and her body, but the sweater clashed with the retailer’s “look policy.” The tribunal found that policy a violation of employment law, but did not find discrimination.

“The tribunal is satisfied the reason for the claimant's dismissal was her breach of the look policy in wearing a cardigan,” the ruling states. “Whilst the tribunal is satisfied the claimant's dismissal was a consequence of her unlawful harassment, it can not be characterized direct disability discrimination.”

Riam Dean.
Riam Dean.   (AP Photo)
A couple walks into an Abercrombie & Fitch store in San Francisco.
A couple walks into an Abercrombie & Fitch store in San Francisco.   (AP Photo)
Riam Dean.
Riam Dean.   (AP Photo)
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14 comments
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Yourself
Aug 13, 09 3:21 PM CDT
good on her for taking on a shitty company and winning! Reply
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+7
Reader64481089
Aug 13, 09 3:23 PM CDT
Yes but it was a win with little teeth and a small victory only in slight compensation. If they would have found discrimination which they should have it would have meant a change in future policy now that isn't so likely Reply
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Aug 13, 09 6:00 PM CDT
the policy is already in place. the reason they couldn't find/prove without a shadow of a doubt that there was discrimination is cause it was hear-say. they also never actually said it was cause of her arm, they only eluded to it. remember, it has to be proven without a shadow of a doubt.. don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to justify it, i'm just explaining it in my opinion.
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Mad
Aug 13, 09 7:14 PM CDT
.... but..... it was NOT discrimination. The policy does not need to be changed, except under the very limited scope of now allowing employees with prosthesis can now cover them
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0
autorob
Aug 13, 09 3:29 PM CDT
It's up to the public to send a clear message. Don't shop there. Reply
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+13

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Aug 16, 09 3:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - The 22-year-old British student with a prosthetic arm who won nearly $15,000 in a discrimination lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch compares its working conditions to a sweatshop. “I found it disturbing,” Riam Dean tells the Daily Mail. “There were so many people in such a tiny... More »

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(Newser) - A British woman with a prosthetic arm is suing Abercrombie & Fitch for workplace discrimination, the Guardian reports. The trendy clothing retailer shifted her to backroom duties to hide her from customers, telling her that a cardigan she wore to cover the link between the prosthesis and her arm contravened... More »

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London • workplace discrimination • discrimination • prosthesis • employment • disability • harassment • tribunal • Abercrombie & Fitch • disability rights • Riam Dean

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