BAZETTA Suit of former officer alleges disability bias

The ex-police officer is seeking $300,000 in compensatory damages and $300,000 in punitive damages.
BAZETTA -- A former township police officer has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Youngstown, alleging she was discriminated against because she has a disability.
Karen Kuriatnyk, of state Route 305, is seeking $300,000 in compensatory damages and $300,000 in punitive damages.
The township is named as a defendant.
Police Chief Robert Jacola declined to comment. Trustees could not be reached.
According to the suit, Kuriatnyk states she has a condition known as Auto Immune Hypothyroidism and her physician placed her "under restrictions." The suit does not state the specific restrictions.
The suit, however, states that "Kuriatnyk could perform all of the essential functions of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education officer" even with the restrictions, but the township insisted that Kuriatnyk be "physically able to perform all duties of a police patrol person."
What suit says: Since Kuriatnyk could not perform all duties without restrictions, the township forced her to go on unpaid medical leave, the suit states.
Kuriatnyk was the township's D.A.R.E. officer for five years, the lawsuit states.
The suit notes that Kuriatny filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April 2000 stating that the township discriminated against her.
The EEOC was unable to "secure a conciliation agreement from Bazetta," and on Jan. 23 the EEOC issued Kuriatnyk a notice of her right to bring a civil suit against the township, the suit states.