Janice E. Baxter v. Wisconsin Department

Janice Baxter, plaintiff, brought a civil action under 42 U.S.C. sec. 1983 and 29 U.S.C. sec. 794 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973) charging that the defendants failed to accommodate her handicap, mental depression, and unlawfully terminated her employment because of her handicap. Defendants are Carroll Besadny, the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, Paulette Harder, department administrator, Richard Fox, a departmental director, and two supervisors, Suzan Shea and Marlys Foley. It is undisputed that the defendants must comply with federal regulations providing that federal fund recipients "shall make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations" of handicapped employees. 45 C.F.R. sec. 84.12 (1990).