A man has taken DZSP 21 to federal court claiming the company wrongfully terminated him because he was deemed a medical liability.
The civil action was filed by Robert Westermann, a former operations manager of DZSP 21, who was terminated from the company on June 7, 2019.
According to the lawsuit, DZSP, a federal government contractor, chose to discriminate against Westermann and terminate his employment because of his disability.
The complaint states that the violation occurred following an incident in which Westermann left work early because he was feeling ill. His illness resulted in him being hospitalized for four days.
Westermann claims he returned to work a day after getting out of the hospital and was informed by DZSP Chief Executive Officer Wayne Cornell, that he “had become a medical liability to his company” and that Westermann “had to go.”
Westermann contends this is a clear violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the federal Rehabilitation Act.
According to Westermann, DZSP 21 was fully aware of his medical disability, adding that the two had a 20-year work relationship and that upon hire, he disclosed the information.
Westermann is requesting a jury trial and a court order preventing DZSP 21 from engaging in unlawful disability discrimination.
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