ST. LOUIS — A U.S. appeals court appears to have concerns about reviving an effort by a Union Pacific engineer to bring his service dog to work, Reuters reports.
Perry Hopman originally won the right to bring the dog to work to help prevent migraines and anxiety caused by his military service in a jury trial [see “UP engineer wins right …,” Trains News Wire, July 19, 2021]. But a federal judge in Little Rock, Ark., tossed out that verdict and dismissed the case last year.
Judges on an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel indicated they were concerned a ruling in favor of Hopman could lead to a flood of lawsuits claiming employers violate federal law by denying accommodations of symptoms of worker disabilities.
Hopman, a former combat flight medic, says he suffered a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, and the dog, a trained service animal, helps prevent migraines and anxiety. Union Pacific has denied his request to bring the dog to work, saying it was potential safety hazard.
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