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Posted: Wednesday, January 30th, 2013 9:23 AM HST

Travel company settles disability lawsuit

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — A Japanese-based corporate travel company has agreed to pay tens of thousands of dollars to settle a disability lawsuit. The federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission announced Wednesday that Kintetsu International Express, Inc. has agreed to pay $77,500. The agency had charged the company with harassment and discrimination against Yuko Lesher, a Maui tour coordinator with rheumatoid arthritis. Lesher worked as the tour coordinator for Kintetsu in 2005 and 2006. The EEOC says a supervisor made disparaging remarks because Lesher walked with a limp and then would not schedule her back to work following surgery until human resources intervened. The agency also accuses the company of retaliating against one of Lesher's coworkers. Kintetsu has agreed to a number of things, including monitoring of its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.