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Posted on 12/25/2025 11:59:30 AM PST by TheDon
A man who transported patients to medical appointments is suing his former employer, alleging he was unlawfully fired after failing a criminal background check despite — he says — years on the job without incident.
The backstory: James Blakney says he was abruptly fired last year after working for nearly three years transporting patients to and from medical appointments. According to a lawsuit filed in D.C. federal court, Blakney had passed three criminal background checks during his employment.
Blakney does have a criminal record, including what appears to be a 2007 felony conviction for heroin distribution — based on FOX 5's review of court records. He was also charged with assault on a police officer in 2000, though that charge was later reduced and ultimately resolved with a misdemeanor conviction for destruction of property.
In 2024, Blakney says he was denied continued employment because of that 2000 conviction.
Dig deeper: The lawsuit names Missouri-based Medical Transportation Management Inc. (MTM), which subcontracts with Maryland-based OnTime Transportation. Blakney began working for OnTime and MTM around June 2021, according to the complaint.
Blakney claims MTM maintains a zero-tolerance policy for violent convictions or charges — regardless of how old they are or an employee’s job performance — and argues that policy violates the D.C. Human Rights Act.
The suit alleges the policy has a discriminatory impact on Black workers.
"We did our time. We did everything," Blakney said. "We shouldn’t have to keep going through this over and over again… especially after 15, 20 years that the case is over and done with."
Big picture view: Advocates say broad criminal background bans can disproportionately affect Black applicants.
Sarah Bessell of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs says that while Black residents make up about 50 percent of D.C.’s population, they account for a significantly larger share of felony convictions.
"That means a blanket criminal background policy is going to have an outsized impact on Black workers," Bessell said.
According to the complaint, Blakney received an email from an MTM credentialing coordinator stating he was rejected because his record showed assault on a police officer — despite the charge being reduced decades ago.
The lawsuit is pending in D.C. federal court. OnTime Transportation and Medical Transportation Management Inc. have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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Seems like a rather racist thing to say.
MTM contracts with OnTime because health carriers contract with MTM for transportation. I suspect that one of the carriers changed their policies and fired employees which didn’t meet the new stricter policies of the medical companies.
If he had a felony conviction, how did he pass three background checks? And did he include that information on his original job application when most employers ask on the form: "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?"
Another question that needs to be answered is why three background checks in 3 years? Normally, that only happens once, prior to being hired, unless this employer has experienced a high-turnover due to employees committing crimes.
"Advocates say broad criminal background bansAre the applicants banned because they are black, or because they have
can disproportionately affect Black applicants."
If a person is not not allowed to obtain gainful employment after having served their prison term, they might as well commit some more crimes.
It was a misdemeanor conviction. Says so right in the title.
I get the impression this company wanted this man gone anyway, and this was just an additional reason.
Article says: “Blakney does have a criminal record, including what appears to be a 2007 felony conviction for heroin distribution. He was also charged with assault on a police officer in 2000, though that charge was later reduced and ultimately resolved with a misdemeanor conviction for destruction of property.”
“We did our time. We did everything,”
What else besides selling drugs and assault?
My fault for trusting the title. It lies.
Not all employment is the same. Some positions place vulnerable people at the mercy of caregivers. Sensible precautions should be taken to protect them. There are plenty of other jobs.
CLEAN RECORD===CLEAN RECORD
Something similar happened right after exxon mobil merged, all employees, even contract maintenance employees were being fired no matter how long employed if any violent conviction such as assault showed up on a background check. Didn’t even need to be a felony. didn’t matter how many years ago.
“It was a misdemeanor conviction. Says so right in the title.”
He had a felony conviction. Says so right in the article.
The Lord is truly gracious and His mercy endures forever. Likewise the Lord loves when we chose to be gracious and show mercy toward others. Even toward “these people”. Even toward those of us who have made mistakes but gone on to make positive changes.
If you go to prison and serve your sentence, that should be it. The place I worked at was a Second Chance employer. Some turned out to be really hard workers.
“My fault for trusting the title. It lies.”
How did it lie.
“If you go to prison and serve your sentence, that should be it. “
Most criminals released from prison end back up in prison ...
There is a reason for the three-strikes laws.
“Even toward those of us who have made mistakes”
Taking a wrong turn on the highway is a mistake.
Selling drugs is a criminal act.
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