The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken legal action against two companies, accusing them of disability discrimination. On November 17, 2025, the EEOC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against ALM Freight, L.L.C., and LMDmax Corp. The lawsuit alleges that these companies violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying employment to a qualified individual due to her disability.
According to the EEOC’s complaint, Jalissa Cerda, who is deaf, was offered a position as a Delivery Associate by ALM Freight in November 2022. However, after requesting an American Sign Language interpreter for her orientation day as a reasonable accommodation for her disability, Cerda’s job offer was rescinded. The EEOC claims that this action not only denied Cerda a reasonable accommodation but also constituted retaliation against her for engaging in protected activity under the ADA. The defendants allegedly knew about Cerda’s disability and still chose not to hire her after she requested accommodations and complained about discrimination.
The EEOC asserts that these actions deprived Cerda of equal employment opportunities and adversely affected her status as an employee due to her disability. The complaint details how ALM Freight and LMDmax were involved in recruitment and onboarding processes when they unlawfully discriminated against Cerda. Despite attempts at conciliation following Letters of Determination issued in March and May 2025 finding reasonable cause for ADA violations, no agreement was reached between the parties.
In its prayer for relief, the EEOC seeks several remedies from the court. These include permanent injunctions preventing further discriminatory practices by the defendants and ordering them to implement policies ensuring equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the EEOC requests backpay with interest for Cerda, compensation for both pecuniary and nonpecuniary losses such as emotional distress and humiliation, punitive damages for malicious conduct, and coverage of legal costs incurred during this action.
Representing the plaintiff are attorneys Catherine Eschbach, Christopher Lage, Kenneth Bird, Omar Weaver (P58861), and Miles L. Uhlar (P65008) from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Detroit Field Office. The case is presided over by Honorable Judge Laurie J. Michelson under Case ID 2:25-cv-13655-LJM-KGA.
Source: 225cv13655_Equal_Employment_v_Alm_Freight_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
