"Apprentice" Sued Over Disabled Rights |
| Posted by: schmiggens | | 'APPRENTICE' BOSSES SUED BY PARAPLEGIC
Producers of Donald Trump's TV hit "The Apprentice" are being sued by a paraplegic, who has yet to even audition for a spot on the reality show.
James Schottel, a 32-year-old lawyer paralyzed from the waist down by a spinal cord injury, says would-be contestants like himself are being discriminated against, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Schottel does not claim to have been turned away yet, but his suit seeks a court order guaranteeing he will be permitted "to apply and be considered for" "The Apprentice" in time for a casting call slated for St. Louis, Mo., on Friday.
Schottel insists he is capable of taking part in the show so long as "reasonable accommodation" is made for his disability.
The suit says potential candidates for the show are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act because the program is billed as a "15-week job interview" in which players vie for a high-paying executive post in Trump's business empire.
Schottel, a 32-year-old lawyer, says that despite being confined to a wheelchair by paralysis he is otherwise "in very good health" but stands to be excluded from the show due to "discrimination in the application process."
- SF Gate | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: schmiggens | | He hasn't even applied or tried to see whether he can get in and he's already suing them? WTF?  You don't need a Court Order beforehand, you just go and audition. If you don't get through, maybe THEN you try and sue.
If anything this is going to end up as negative publicity for him as an applicant, it will make him look as though he can't achieve things by himself and needs help with every little detail and that's not the sort of person you want as your apprentice. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: HECK! | | It would be different if he tried to apply. Why doesn't he try to sue 'Amazing Race' or 'Survivor' too.
-HECK! | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: schmiggens | | Quadriplegic Settles 'Apprentice' Suit
ST. LOUIS - A quadriplegic attorney settled his lawsuit against producers of NBC's "The Apprentice" after they agreed to make clear the program accepts applications from the disabled.
James Schottel Jr., whose federal lawsuit claimed the show's online application was discriminatory in requiring "excellent physical" health of would-be contestants, said Wednesday that producers agreed to insert a sentence into the show's rules encouraging people with disabilities to try out.
Schottel said the new language reads: "All applicants who believe they meet our criteria, including persons with disabilities, are welcome and encouraged to apply to be a participant. I think that's satisfactory," Schottel said. "I'm still a fan of the show, and I was pleased that the online application is going to be modified and that they have shown they have a commitment to consider people with disabilities. That was my goal from the beginning."
Mark Burnett, who produces the show along with star Donald Trump, said: "It was never our intent to exclude from consideration persons with disabilities."
"Even before we learned of this lawsuit, our staff in New York had already interviewed three persons in wheelchairs." Burnett said. "We continue to urge all potential participants, including those with disabilities, who are interested to apply for the show."
As part of the deal, neither Los Angeles-based Mark Burnett Productions Inc. nor Trump Productions LLC admit any wrongdoing.
Schottel never sought monetary damages. He sued here last month, seeking an injunction that would force "The Apprentice" producers to drop requirements that exclude him and "others similarly situated" from being considered for the show.
Schottel had applied to try out for the show when auditions were staged last month on the Casino Queen gaming boat across the Mississippi River in East St. Louis, Ill.
- Yahoo News | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: mystic | | OMG....Okay..he sued because of the wording in the contract...but he really does need to be in physical condition, in that I mean he has got to be able to work the jobs like the rest of them.
He has to be able to paint in some cases, and do odd jobs...
Okay...so he is now able to audition.
Whats he gonna do..sue if Donald doesnt hire him too? 
Im not against someone with disabilities working or doing things in shows like this...but if they cant do the job along with everyone else...is that fair?
If he can do the work..I say go for it, but if he cant, then what? | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: HECK! | | It's a fine line. But most people just don't want to be summarily excluded, even if they don't want to be included. Like those guys who sued Hooters because they couldn't be waiters there.
-HECK! | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: schmiggens | |
| quote: |
| Like those guys who sued Hooters because they couldn't be waiters there. |
I am sure that if they'd had breast enlargements to a DD or maybe FF  , they could've worked there 
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| Posted by: HECK! | | Oh man, now I can never go back to Hooters without thinking about that.
Eh, yeah I can 
-HECK! | | Reply To this Message
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The Apprentice Forum: "Apprentice" Sued Over Disabled Rights
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I would love to see some A1s like Troy and Kwame and A2s like Jen C and Jen M to shake things up.