Case: Torres v. Society for Human Resource Management

1:25-cv-02360 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Filed Date: Dec. 16, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case is about an individual with a service dog whose job offer was allegedly revoked because of her disability. On December 16, 2025, an individual with Type 1 diabetes, who requires a trained service dog, filed a discrimination lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The plaintiff received a job offer from SHRM on June 3, 2024 for a Senior Specialist position, but when she requested accommodation to brin…

This case is about an individual with a service dog whose job offer was allegedly revoked because of her disability.

On December 16, 2025, an individual with Type 1 diabetes, who requires a trained service dog, filed a discrimination lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The plaintiff received a job offer from SHRM on June 3, 2024 for a Senior Specialist position, but when she requested accommodation to bring her service dog to work—which can detect and alert to dangerous blood glucose changes—SHRM denied the request and rescinded the offer on July 15, 2024, without explanation. The complaint alleges SHRM’s violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) for disability discrimination and failure to accommodate. The plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief, monetary damages including compensation for loss of employment benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. This case was assigned to District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles and US Magistrate Judge William B. Porter.

Prior to filing this lawsuit, the plaintiff filed administrative complaints with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, which was later transferred to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 

Commission (EEOC) for the investigation. She brought this lawsuit based on a Notice of Right to Sue from the EEOC on September 19, 2025. 

As of February 11, 2026, the case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Chise Mori (2/11/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72042019/parties/torres-v-society-for-human-resource-management/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Pershing, Stephen Barkai (Virginia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-02360

Complaint

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72042019/torres-v-society-for-human-resource-management/

Last updated March 23, 2026, 4:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

Complaint with jury demand ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AVAEDC-10648719.), filed by Fiona Torres. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Pershing, Stephen) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Proposed Summons re 1 Complaint by Fiona Torres (Pershing, Stephen) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

3

Motion to appear Pro Hac Vice by Lori B. Kisch and Certification of Local Counsel Stephen B. Pershing Filing fee $ 75, receipt number AVAEDC-10649478. by Fiona Torres. (Attachments: # 1 Pro hac vice application form for Lori B. Kisch)(Pershing, Stephen) (Entered: 12/16/2025)

Dec. 16, 2025

Dec. 16, 2025

4

Proposed Summons re 1 Complaint (refiled with correction) by Fiona Torres (Pershing, Stephen) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

Virginia

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Disability Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 16, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An individual with Type 1 diabetes, who relies on a service dog to alert her to dangerous blood glucose fluctuations

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Non-profit or advocacy

Society for Human Resource Management

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Virginia 1:25-cv-02360

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Damages

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Disability and Disability Rights:

Reasonable Accommodations

Discrimination Area:

Hiring

Discrimination Basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Recommended Citation