Overview

• The Supreme Court ruled 8–1 that Karyn Stanley cannot sue the City of Sanford under the ADA for reduced health benefits following her 2018 disability retirement.
• Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that the ADA’s definition of “qualified individual” applies only to people holding or seeking employment at the time of discrimination claims.
• Stanley retired at 47 after a Parkinson’s diagnosis; a 2003 policy reduced her insurance subsidy to two years instead of coverage until age 65.
• Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning the decision undermines disability rights and urging congressional action to extend protections to retirees.
• Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that retirees might still bring ADA claims if they can show discriminatory benefit decisions occurred while they remained qualified employees.