Farmer v. Butts County, Georgia
A firefighter with autism. Five years of alleged harassment. One county held to account.
Hall & Lampros, LLP represents Robert Farmer, a firefighter and emergency medical technician with Asperger’s Syndrome who, according to a complaint filed in federal court, endured years of disability-based harassment and retaliation in the Butts County Fire Department before he was forced to resign. These are the lawsuit allegations only, which Butts County denies.
A Butts County firefighter’s disability discrimination lawsuit
In brief: Farmer v. Butts County, Georgia (Case No. 5:26-cv-00131-TES) is a federal lawsuit alleging that the Butts County Fire Department discriminated and retaliated against firefighter and EMT Robert Farmer because of his autism (Asperger’s Syndrome), in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act — creating conditions so hostile that he was forced to resign.
Robert Farmer knew he wanted to be a firefighter long before most people choose a career. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome — a form of autism spectrum disorder — as a child, he channeled an intense focus into the work he loved, earning his Firefighter I certification before he finished high school and later qualifying as an EMT.
In November 2016, Farmer joined the Butts County Fire Department, where he disclosed his disability from the outset. According to the complaint, he performed his duties with the honesty, thoroughness, and attention to detail that his disability made a professional asset. Over the next five years, the complaint alleges, his coworkers and supervisors targeted him for the very traits connected to his autism — his routines, his hygiene, his difficulty reading social cues — subjecting him to a campaign of harassment that the department’s leadership repeatedly declined to stop.
The lawsuit alleges that when Farmer asked for a reasonable accommodation, a supervising officer refused outright; that when he complained in writing to Human Resources, he was transferred to work daily alongside the same coworker he had reported for abuse; and that the conditions became so intolerable they amounted to a constructive discharge. On his last day, Farmer wrote that he was “saddened” to resign from a job serving a community he cared about.
About these allegations. The summary below describes the claims set out in the plaintiff’s complaint, a public court filing. These allegations have not been proven, and Butts County has not been found liable by any court. A complaint reflects one party’s account; the defendant is entitled to respond and to contest every claim.
The account set out in the filing
01. A qualified firefighter who disclosed his disability
The complaint alleges Farmer told the fire chief during his interview that his Asperger’s Syndrome could make certain social interactions and abrupt changes to routine difficult — and that nothing about his disability prevented him from performing the essential functions of the job, which he did well enough to be promoted to full-time.
02. Years of pervasive harassment
Beginning in 2017, the complaint alleges, coworkers ostracized and mocked Farmer for the manifestations of his disability — including verbal harassment, public humiliation during shifts, online mockery (such as a social-media post branding him the “Broke Back Firefighter”), and physical and sexual harassment. It alleges he reported this conduct and that supervisors failed to stop it, with one captain telling him to simply “deal with” his coworkers.
03. Escalation after a protective supervisor retired
The complaint alleges Farmer was able to endure the environment with the support of a battalion chief who valued his work — and that after that supervisor retired in May 2020 and was replaced by an officer who had allegedly participated in the harassment, the mistreatment intensified across the chain of command.
04. A refusal to accommodate
According to the complaint, when Farmer explained his difficulty with abrupt routine changes and asked for a reasonable accommodation, a supervising officer refused, allegedly stating the department would not “change day to day operations for one person when they knew they had a disability when they came here,” and warning Farmer against taking his concerns to Human Resources.
05. Protected activity, retaliation, and constructive discharge
The complaint alleges that after Farmer filed a written disability-discrimination grievance with Human Resources in July 2021, the department retaliated — including by transferring him to work daily with a coworker he had previously reported for harassment — and that leadership suggested the department “might not be the place” for him. The complaint alleges these conditions forced his resignation in September 2021.
Four counts under the Americans with Disabilities Act
The First Amended Complaint asserts four claims under the ADA. The firm seeks compensatory damages, back and front pay, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
Count I — Disability Discrimination
Alleges Farmer, a qualified individual with a disability, was subjected to a hostile work environment based on his Asperger’s Syndrome and that the county failed to provide a reasonable accommodation or engage in the interactive process.
42 U.S.C. § 12112
Count II — “Regarded As” Discrimination
Alleges the county discriminated against Farmer because it perceived and regarded him as having a disability, targeting characteristics associated with autism such as his adherence to routine and his communication style.
42 U.S.C. § 12112
Count III — Disparate Impact
Alleges the county’s facially neutral policies and practices — including a stated refusal to change day-to-day operations — disproportionately harm individuals with autism spectrum disorder and cannot be justified by business necessity.
42 U.S.C. § 12112
Count IV — Retaliation
Alleges that after Farmer engaged in protected activity — including a written grievance and complaints of discrimination — the county took adverse actions against him, culminating in a constructive discharge.
42 U.S.C. § 12203
Frequently asked questions
What is Farmer v. Butts County about? ▾
It is a federal lawsuit (Case No. 5:26-cv-00131-TES) filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia on behalf of Robert Farmer, a former Butts County firefighter and EMT with Asperger’s Syndrome. The complaint alleges the county discriminated against Farmer because of his disability, failed to accommodate it, and retaliated against him for complaining — ultimately forcing his resignation. The claims arise under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? ▾
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil-rights law that prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified employees because of a disability. It requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations, forbids harassment based on disability, and makes it unlawful to retaliate against workers who assert their rights. Learn more about disability discrimination in the workplace.
Is autism or Asperger’s Syndrome a disability under the ADA? ▾
Autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s Syndrome, can qualify as disabilities under the ADA when the condition substantially limits a major life activity such as communicating, interacting with others, concentrating, or thinking. Whether an individual is protected depends on the specific facts of their situation.
What is a constructive discharge? ▾
A constructive discharge occurs when an employer makes working conditions so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to resign. In that situation, the law may treat the resignation as if the employee had been fired. The complaint in Farmer v. Butts County alleges that the conditions Farmer faced amounted to a constructive discharge.
Have these allegations been proven? ▾
No. The statements on this page summarize allegations contained in the plaintiff’s complaint, which is a public court filing reflecting one side’s account. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Butts County has not been found liable. The defendant is entitled to respond to and contest the claims. The case is active and ongoing.
Who represents the plaintiff? ▾
Robert Farmer is represented by Christopher B. Hall and Destiney Randolph of Hall & Lampros, LLP, an Atlanta-based firm that represents employees in disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases throughout Georgia.
I experienced disability discrimination at work. What should I do? ▾
Employees who believe they have faced disability discrimination, harassment, a denied accommodation, or retaliation often have strict deadlines to act — including filing a charge with the EEOC before suing. If you would like to understand your options, you can contact Hall & Lampros, LLP for a confidential consultation. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship, and every situation is different.
Does it cost anything to talk to Hall & Lampros? ▾
The firm offers a free, confidential case evaluation. You can reach Hall & Lampros at (404) 876-8100 or through the contact form on the firm’s website.
Hall & Lampros, LLP
Hall & Lampros, LLP is an Atlanta-based plaintiffs’ firm that stands up for employees in disability discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other employment and civil-rights matters throughout Georgia. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience holding employers accountable — and the resources to take on institutions and see a case through.
Disability Discrimination Lawyer · Retaliation · EEOC Cases · Sexual Harassment · Employment Law
Counsel for the plaintiff
Christopher B. Hall
A recognized civil-rights and employment litigator, Attorney Hall represents employees in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases across Georgia and the Southeast. chall@hallandlampros.com
Destiney Randolph
Attorney Randolph represents employees in disability discrimination and retaliation matters, advocating for workers’ rights under the ADA and related civil-rights laws. destiney@hallandlampros.com
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Attorney Advertising. This page has been prepared by Hall & Lampros, LLP for informational and advertising purposes in connection with Robert F. Farmer v. Butts County, Georgia, Case No. 5:26-cv-00131-TES (M.D. Ga.). It summarizes allegations contained in a publicly filed complaint. Those allegations are unproven, and Butts County has not been found liable by any court. The information on this page does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Hall & Lampros, LLP is responsible for the content of this advertisement. Christopher B. Hall, Ga. Bar No. 318380. Destiney Randolph, Ga. Bar No. 492233. Hall & Lampros, LLP, 300 Galleria Parkway, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30339. (404) 876-8100.
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