Sep 28, 2006 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

A Carmichaels man filed suit against Greene County on Wednesday, alleging that officials forced him out of his job as a bus driver by not making accommodations for his obesity. The suit, filed in federal court by Bryan Bird of 514-B E. Greene St., alleges that unspecified county officials fired him from the county’s Transportation Department of Community Action Southwest without offering to buy him a seatbelt extender or having him drive a different bus to accommodate his 425-pound, 6-foot-2 frame.

Bird sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and filed three complaints against the county with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), according to the suit.

The suit complained that when Bird was forced to wear his seatbelt, “(it) fit too tightly to wear, causing him pain, discomfort and limited mobility”

“When forced to use the small seat belt by a member of management on July 28, 2005, (Bird) had to leave work after only two hours, because of severe abdominal pain and pain in his side,” wrote his attorney, Daniel J. Iler.

Bird was indefinitely suspended the next day because he didn’t wear it, according to the suit. Although he provided a doctor’s excuse that he was “morbidly obese” and needed a seatbelt extender, the suit claimed the county did not accommodate him.

The suit stated he was fired on Oct. 28 for not wearing his seatbelt and alleged insubordination

He is asking for front and back pay and compensatory and punitive damages.