Fired obese worker will get $55,000

Ronald Kratz II was fired from his job because his employees said he was morbidly obese with a weight of 600 pounds. The EEOC has sued BAE Systems on his behalf under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in Houston. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle ) less Ronald Kratz II was fired from his job because his employees said he was morbidly obese with a weight of 600 pounds. The EEOC has sued BAE Systems on his behalf under the Americans with Disabilities Act. ... more Photo: Michael Paulsen Photo: Michael Paulsen Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Fired obese worker will get $55,000 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems has agreed to pay $55,000 and provide six months of outplacement services to a morbidly obese employee it fired, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The settlement, which was approved by U.S. District Judge Gray Miller of Houston, resolves a disability discrimination claim the EEOC brought on behalf of Ronald Kratz II, a materials handler in Sealy. BAE is a Virginia-based military vehicle manufacturing company.

Kratz, who weighed as much as 680 pounds when he worked at the plant, was qualified to perform the essential functions of his $21-an-hour job, the EEOC said in its lawsuit on Kratz's behalf. And company officials did not discuss with Kratz whether he needed any reasonable accommodations to perform his job, according to the agency.

"BAE Systems is pleased to have reached an amicable resolution to the lawsuit with Mr. Kratz," according to a statement from spokeswoman Stephanie Serkhoshian in Arlington, Va.

She said the company denies any wrongdoing in connection with its decision to terminate Kratz.

The agreement with the federal agency requires the company to provide training to company managers and human resource officials on equal employment compliance, including the responsibility to accommodate disabled employees and job applicants.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008 broadened the scope of impairments that are covered under the federal law. It also expanded the obligations of employers to determine whether they can reasonably accommodate employees with disabilities.

Kratz is continuing to lose weight on a diet and exercise program and is at about 350 pounds now, said Kathy Boutchee, the EEOC lawyer who handled the case. He hasn't been able to find another job since he was fired in October 2009, she said.

lm.sixel@chron.com