Hawaiian Electric To Settle Suit By One-eyed Meter Reader

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says Hawaiian Electric Co. will pay $50,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit by an employee who is blind in one eye.

The commission filed a complaint on behalf of Patrick Obado claiming he was denied a position as a meter reader because of his disability.

The EEOC argued that he was fully capable of performing the job because he has perfect vision in the other eye.

The agency announced the settlement Tuesday, which also requires the electric company to designate an Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator to handle disability-related employee inquires and to hire an outside monitor to provide training on federal disability law.

The company says it entered into the agreement to avoid litigation and that it’s not an admission of liability.