Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Apr. 6 that her office has secured a $120,000 settlement in a disability discrimination lawsuit against Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, operating as Fry’s Food Stores. The case involved a deaf employee who was denied an American Sign Language interpreter and was ultimately terminated from employment.
The resolution highlights ongoing concerns about workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities and the enforcement of civil rights protections in Arizona. The Arizona Civil Rights Division alleged that Fry’s violated the Arizona Civil Rights Act by refusing to provide effective communication support to the employee despite repeated requests for reasonable accommodation.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, instead of providing an interpreter, Fry’s relied on lipreading, written notes, and family members interpreting staff trainings. The employee was cited for insubordination after refusing to sign documents he could not understand and was later fired without ever receiving proper communication assistance. “Civil rights protections are at increasing risk in our country and our state, but my office is committed to protecting all Arizonans from unlawful discrimination,” Mayes said. She added: “When employers deny effective communication to employees with disabilities, qualified individuals are prevented from meaningful participation in the workforce.” Mayes also stated: “The Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office remains steadfast in protecting all Arizonans. When the federal government turns its back on civil rights, we will not.”
Under the terms of the Consent Decree reached with Fry’s Food Stores, the company agreed to pay $120,000 to the affected individual; establish relationships with American Sign Language interpreting agencies capable of providing both video remote and in-person interpreting services; train management and human resources staff regarding accommodation processes; and distribute information about recognizing accommodation requests.
The Civil Rights Division investigated thousands of discrimination allegations last fiscal year alone and secured over $2 million in remedies for victims statewide — remaining Arizona’s only civil rights enforcement agency amid what it describes as uncertain federal protections.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office addresses issues such as elder abuse, civil rights violations, unsolved crimes through its cold case unit—contributing to community protection across the state according to its official website. It serves as Arizona’s chief legal office with responsibilities for advocacy and protective services statewide according to its official website. Kris Mayes is recognized as Arizona’s 27th attorney general—and is noted as being the first mother appointed to this role according to its official website.
For those who believe they have experienced discrimination under state law—which protects against unlawful treatment based on disability—the Civil Rights Division can be contacted by phone or through an online intake questionnaire.
