Court rejects ex-deputy's discrimination claims

The federal appeals court in Atlanta has rejected age and disability discrimination claims by a former Fulton County deputy sergeant.

Johnnie Hollins, who began work for the sheriff's office in 1988, was injured during an altercation with an inmate in June 2006. Then 58, she was granted leave until September of that year to recover, but never returned to work and was fired, the court said in a recent opinion. The ruling said Hollins presented no direct evidence of discrimination and that her circumstantial evidence fell short as well.