City of Union, Missouri Missouri Cases

Steven Loerch sued the City of Union for disability discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act after he was allegedly forced to retire due to a medical restriction preventing him from working in extreme temperatures. The trial court granted summary judgment for the City, finding Loerch did not have a "disability" as defined by the MHRA. The appellate court reversed the summary judgment, holding that genuine disputes of material fact existed regarding whether Loerch's condition substantially limited a major life activity, whether working in extreme temperatures was an essential job function, and whether his requested accommodation was unreasonable as a matter of law. The case was remanded for further proceedings.

Steven Loerch appealed the circuit court's grant of summary judgment to the City of Union on his disability discrimination claim. The appellate court, however, dismissed the appeal for lack of a final judgment. It found that the circuit court's summary judgment order, which merely stated "So Ordered" without explanation, prevented the appellate court from determining the basis of the judgment or if it was final and appealable. The case was remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.

Jeffery Pinnell sued the City of Union for personal injuries sustained after falling from a bridge headwall, alleging the City maintained the bridge in a dangerous condition. The trial court granted the City's motion for a directed verdict, finding Pinnell failed to make a submissible case for waiver of sovereign immunity. The appellate court reversed and remanded, concluding that Pinnell presented substantial evidence that the City's property was in a dangerous condition, thus precluding a directed verdict.