American Apparel pays up for firing cancer patient

Ric Francis/AP

A worker moves several boxes of American Apparel garments on the sewing floor in Los Angeles in this 2004 file photo.

American Apparel has settled a disability discrimination suit over the firing of a Los Angeles worker while he was on medical leave for cancer treatments. The fired worker will get $40,000 and American Apparel will spend $20,000 to sponsor seminars on rights under the American Disabilities Act.

American Apparel has been no stranger to bad press like this.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which filed the federal lawsuit, announced the $60,000 settlement and consent decree on Monday.

Los Angeles-based clothing manufacturer American Apparel has about 10,000 people worldwide, half of those in Los Angeles.

Voicemail and email messages left for American Apparel spokeswoman Michelle Lemay weren't immediately returned to the AP.