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kalikshama -> RE: Man Fires Veteran for Being “Disabled Veteran” (10/24/2012 10:21:27 AM)
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http://www.wistv.com/story/19881174/lawsuit-claims-former-marine-fired-for-being-disabled-veteran
...Brown said his boss, Jonathan Moreno, told him the reason he had to fire him was because he was a disabled veteran and wouldn't allow any discussion of his decision. "His mind was made up by the time he was even walking into the building," Brown said.
Brown said he was willing to work nights and weekends in order to make up the lost time, but said Moreno wouldn't entertain the arrangement. It was something Brown was already doing after working an arrangement out with his previous manager, "I stayed a lot later. Usually I'm supposed to be done by seven. I wouldn't leave the gym until easily nine or 10 o'clock, just to make sure I had everything straightened up and ready to roll for the next day."
"I have not seen a case that is so spelled out in black and white and is so clear a violation of the law, and obviously they need an education," Brown's attorney James Smith said. Smith, an Iraqi War veteran himself, filed the lawsuit for Brown in September. Smith said employers are required to make "reasonable accommodations" for employees with disabilities and argues that Brown's willingness to make up lost time was fair to both sides. "Those are reasonable accommodations, which must be made by an employer and they just need to understand that. Apparently they don't," Smith said.
We went to Moreno, who works at Gold's Gym in Lexington after leaving New Life Fitness World a few weeks after he fired Brown, for his side of the story. Moreno calls the claim that he fired Brown because he's a "disabled veteran," "horse [expletive]." Moreno's signature is at the bottom of the form, approving Brown's firing, which is marked, "disabled veteran."
Moreno told WIS the reason he fired Brown was because of customer service complaints, the gym was not clean and that Brown was not meeting his sales goals. Moreno declined an on camera interview to explain his decision to fire Brown. Brown's final pay check shows the gym paid him $150 in bonuses for meeting production, sales and membership goals. Moreno referred us to his former bosses for comment.
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