The U.S. District Court found the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to be a joint employer along with a
private contractor, AKAL Security, when a former court security officer (CSO) was disqualified from
employment based on her hearing disability. Walton v. U.S. Marshals Service, C 03-01460 SI (NDCA
8/27/04). The plaintiff, who had worked as a CSO for 14 years, alleged that she was subjected to
disability discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 USC
