ADA Compliance

ADA Attorney in Memphis

35+ Years Fighting for Memphis Employees Whose Accommodations Were Denied

When an employer refuses a reasonable accommodation request, ignores it entirely, or retaliates against the employee who made it, that employee has legal options. Donati Law, PLLC represents workers in Memphis and the Mid-South whose rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act have been violated. With more than 35 years of employment law experience and over 150 years of collective experience across our attorneys, we know how these disputes work and how to pursue them effectively.

We’re a family-run firm, which means clients get direct, personal attention from attorneys who treat each situation as the individual matter it is. Our employment law track record includes millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, and Donati Law, PLLC has been recognized in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms rankings.

If your employer has denied, delayed, or ignored your request for a workplace accommodation, call our Memphis ADA lawyers today at (901) 209-5500 to discuss your situation.

ADA Claims We Handle for Memphis Employees

Title I of the ADA requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. When employers fall short of that obligation, we step in. We represent employees in disputes involving:

Denial of reasonable accommodations: Employer refuses or ignores an accommodation request without establishing undue hardship
Failure to engage in the interactive process: Employer declines to meaningfully discuss accommodation options rather than working toward a solution
Disability-based termination or discipline: Adverse employment action motivated by a disability or an employer’s perception of one
Retaliation: Adverse action taken because an employee requested an accommodation, filed an EEOC charge, or participated in an ADA investigation

We represent employees in disputes with both private employers and public-sector employers covered by the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act. Our clients are located throughout Memphis and Shelby County.

Why Memphis Employees Choose Donati Law, PLLC

ADA accommodation disputes require attorneys who understand employment law at both the agency and federal court level. Our attorneys have argued employment cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and that appellate experience shapes how we build cases from the first consultation forward.

Because we’re family-run, our clients aren’t handed off to a rotating roster of associates. You work with attorneys who know your case and are invested in it. We represent workers regardless of their financial position, and we’re committed to leveling the playing field against employers with far greater resources.

What to Expect: From Accommodation Dispute to Resolution

Before filing an ADA lawsuit in federal court, an employee must first file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This is a mandatory prerequisite, not a formality. Because Tennessee has a worksharing agreement with the EEOC, Memphis employees generally have 300 days from the discriminatory act to file. Missing that window can forfeit the right to sue.

After a charge is filed, the EEOC may investigate, offer mediation, or issue a right-to-sue letter. We represent clients through every stage, from the initial charge filing through federal or state court litigation if the matter doesn’t resolve earlier. One practical step that can make a real difference: document your accommodation requests and your employer’s responses in writing as soon as an issue arises. We can walk you through how to do that from day one.

Talk to an ADA Lawyer in Memphis

Accommodation disputes move on legal deadlines. If your employer has denied your request, failed to respond, or taken action against you for asserting your rights, don’t wait to get advice. Donati Law, PLLC takes clients’ situations seriously because each client represents a cause we believe in.

Call us at (901) 209-5500 to schedule a consultation with our Memphis ADA attorneys.

What Qualifies as a Disability Under the ADA

The ADA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Coverage extends beyond employees who currently have such an impairment. It also applies to individuals with a record of a qualifying impairment and to individuals whose employer regards them as having one, even when they don’t.

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) significantly broadened this definition. Congress passed the ADAAA specifically to overturn Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed who qualified for protection. Under the amended law, the definition of disability is meant to be interpreted broadly, and conditions that are episodic or in remission can still qualify if they would substantially limit a major life activity when active. Both physical and mental health conditions are covered.

How the Reasonable Accommodation Process Is Supposed to Work

A reasonable accommodation is any workplace adjustment that enables a qualified employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job. The range of what counts is broader than most employees realize.

Common accommodations include modified schedules, remote work arrangements, reassignment to a vacant position, assistive technology, adjusted job duties, and modified workspaces. An employer can deny a request only if granting it would impose an undue hardship, meaning significant difficulty or expense given the employer’s size and available resources.

The law also requires employers to engage in a good-faith interactive process with the employee. That means discussing the situation and working toward an effective accommodation. Simply refusing without that dialogue isn’t lawful. Employers may ask for limited medical documentation to verify the disability and the need for accommodation, but they can’t demand full medical records, and they can’t force an employee into a lower-paying position solely because of a disability.

Common ADA Violations Memphis Employees Face

These are the violations Memphis employees most frequently encounter:

Failure to accommodate: Employer refuses or ignores a request without engaging in the interactive process or demonstrating undue hardship
Failure to engage in the interactive process: Employer declines to meaningfully discuss accommodation options, treating the request as closed without good-faith dialogue
Disability-based adverse action: Termination, demotion, or disciplinary action motivated by the employee’s disability or the employer’s perception of one
Improper medical inquiries: Requesting medical information or requiring medical examinations outside the narrow circumstances the ADA permits
Retaliation: Adverse employment action taken against an employee for requesting an accommodation, filing an EEOC charge, or participating in an ADA investigation

The Tennessee Human Rights Act provides parallel state-law protections that may apply alongside federal ADA claims, depending on the circumstances of a particular case.

Real Results For Real People

Our firm accepts every case with the motivation to do all we can to help that client receive the compensation they deserve. With a drive to win, a passion for justice, and the tenacity to fight, we have successfully secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

$1.8 Million Misclassified Employee
$1 Million Overtime Dispute
$400,000 Wages Dispute

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Built on Client Satisfaction

With a commitment to improving lives, we are truly invested in protecting the well-being of our clients. Every person we work with is going through a unique situation, and we offer personalized counsel to meet each client’s specific needs.

Professional, efficient, knowledgeable, and responsive.
“Ruchee Patel at Donati Law firm in Memphis is the best! She and her team are professional, efficient, knowledgeable, and responsive - highly recommended!”

- Amy M.

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Every Client is a Cause We Believe In

To discuss your case with an accomplished attorney who cares, give our firm a call at (901) 209-5500 or fill out the form below.

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WHy Choose Donati Law?

Established

Team of professionals with more experience than ego
Trustworthy

Providing attentive, personalized & honest legal counsel
Seasoned

150+ years of experience & thousands of cases handled
Revered

Included in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms”

A Tradition of Legal Excellence

Our team of professionals seek justice one client at a time, because every client is a cause we believe in. We keep things simple, by consistently showing our dedication not only to the law, but to our clients. Passionate about honoring the law and respecting every client, our firm strives to make the legal changes that are needed to improve the lives of people throughout our community.