Brian Moore
A business owned by Republican lieutenant governor candidate Brian Moore is being sued for allegedly not hiring a job applicant because he had a learning disability.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is bringing the lawsuit against Clayton Ranch Market, a grocery store owned by Moore and his wife Linda, according to the Quay County Sun.
The lawsuit, according to the newspaper, claims the store didn’t hire Robert Harris in April 2008 to be a stocker and bagger because of a learning disability, in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
“The EEOC’s investigation revealed that Clayton Ranch Market hired people with the same or similar qualifications as Mr. Harris, yet Mr. Harris, who sought employment with the store, was neither hired or contacted about a job,” the EEOC’s Rayford Ivrin said in a press release, according to the newspaper. “Employers cannot deny employment to qualified applicants because of disability.”
Moore told the newspaper he could not comment on details, but added, “We categorically deny any wrongdoing and look forward to defending our reputation in court.”
The lawsuit seeks back wages, compensatory and punitive damages and the institution and carrying out of a company policy prohibiting discrimination against those with disabilities.
Moore, who was a state representative from Clayton for eight years, entered the race for lieutenant governor five weeks ago. The only other announced Republican candidate for lieutenant governor is J.R. Damron of Santa Fe.