Minnesota Jury Instruction - 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim

• Category: Federal - Jury Instructions - Adverse Employment Action
• State: Multi-State
• Control #: US-11CF-1-5-2
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form contains sample jury instructions, to be used across the United States. These questions are to be used only as a model, and should be altered to more perfectly fit your own cause of action needs. Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim: The Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim is an instruction given to the jury in a civil case involving a claim of discrimination based on a failure to provide reasonable accommodation under Minnesota law. This instruction provides guidance on what constitutes a reasonable accommodation, how it should be determined, and the factors the jury should consider when determining if the defendant (usually an employer or housing provider) has failed to provide such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation is a legal requirement under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MARA) that aims to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities or protected characteristics. It requires employers, housing providers, and public accommodations to make reasonable adjustments to their policies, practices, and facilities to ensure equal opportunities for those individuals. The Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim instructs the jury to consider several key elements when determining if a violation of the reasonable accommodation requirement has occurred. These include: 1. Disability or protected characteristic: The claimant must demonstrate that they have a disability or belong to a protected class as defined under the MARA. This could include physical or mental impairments, medical conditions, or characteristics protected by the law, such as race, sex, religion, or national origin. 2. Qualification for a job or housing: The claimant must be qualified for the position or housing in question, despite their disability or protected characteristic. They should possess the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications required for the role, and satisfy any other legitimate requirements imposed by the employer or housing provider. 3. Request for accommodation: The claimant must have requested reasonable accommodation from the defendant, typically in writing. This request should clearly indicate the nature of the accommodation needed to perform essential job functions or access housing, and explain how it would enable the claimant to meet the requirements or overcome barriers. 4. Reasonableness of the accommodation: The jury must determine if the requested accommodation is reasonable. The MARA defines reasonable accommodation as one that allows the claimant to perform essential job functions or access housing without imposing an undue burden on the defendant. Factors like the cost, resource availability, potential disruption, and alternative accommodations, if any, should be considered. 5. Failure to provide accommodation: The jury must evaluate whether the defendant failed to provide the requested reasonable accommodation. This could involve a refusal to grant the accommodation, a delay in responding, or providing an insufficient or ineffective accommodation that fails to address the claimant's needs adequately. Different types of Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim may include variations tailored to specific contexts or industries. For example, instructions may be specific to employment discrimination claims, housing discrimination claims, or discrimination claims against public accommodations. In conclusion, the Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim is a crucial guideline provided to juries in Minnesota civil cases involving discrimination claims related to the failure to provide reasonable accommodation. It serves to ensure that individuals with disabilities or protected characteristics are afforded equal opportunities by examining essential elements of the claim and helping the jury reach a fair and informed decision.

Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim: The Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim is an instruction given to the jury in a civil case involving a claim of discrimination based on a failure to provide reasonable accommodation under Minnesota law. This instruction provides guidance on what constitutes a reasonable accommodation, how it should be determined, and the factors the jury should consider when determining if the defendant (usually an employer or housing provider) has failed to provide such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation is a legal requirement under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MARA) that aims to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities or protected characteristics. It requires employers, housing providers, and public accommodations to make reasonable adjustments to their policies, practices, and facilities to ensure equal opportunities for those individuals. The Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim instructs the jury to consider several key elements when determining if a violation of the reasonable accommodation requirement has occurred. These include: 1. Disability or protected characteristic: The claimant must demonstrate that they have a disability or belong to a protected class as defined under the MARA. This could include physical or mental impairments, medical conditions, or characteristics protected by the law, such as race, sex, religion, or national origin. 2. Qualification for a job or housing: The claimant must be qualified for the position or housing in question, despite their disability or protected characteristic. They should possess the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications required for the role, and satisfy any other legitimate requirements imposed by the employer or housing provider. 3. Request for accommodation: The claimant must have requested reasonable accommodation from the defendant, typically in writing. This request should clearly indicate the nature of the accommodation needed to perform essential job functions or access housing, and explain how it would enable the claimant to meet the requirements or overcome barriers. 4. Reasonableness of the accommodation: The jury must determine if the requested accommodation is reasonable. The MARA defines reasonable accommodation as one that allows the claimant to perform essential job functions or access housing without imposing an undue burden on the defendant. Factors like the cost, resource availability, potential disruption, and alternative accommodations, if any, should be considered. 5. Failure to provide accommodation: The jury must evaluate whether the defendant failed to provide the requested reasonable accommodation. This could involve a refusal to grant the accommodation, a delay in responding, or providing an insufficient or ineffective accommodation that fails to address the claimant's needs adequately. Different types of Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim may include variations tailored to specific contexts or industries. For example, instructions may be specific to employment discrimination claims, housing discrimination claims, or discrimination claims against public accommodations. In conclusion, the Minnesota Jury Instruction — 1.5.2 Reasonable Accommodation Claim is a crucial guideline provided to juries in Minnesota civil cases involving discrimination claims related to the failure to provide reasonable accommodation. It serves to ensure that individuals with disabilities or protected characteristics are afforded equal opportunities by examining essential elements of the claim and helping the jury reach a fair and informed decision.