FRESNO — A Fresno County man is suing his former employers, alleging disability discrimination.
Enrique Lobato filed a complaint Dec. 22 in Fresno County Superior Court against Olam West Coast, Inc., David Iniguez, and Does 1 through 20, alleging violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
According to the complaint, Lobato had workede for Olam West Coast since 2002, The suit says on May 30, 2017, he was injured on the job as he was fixing a machine. The lawsuit states Lobato had to be taken to a hospital to for the amputation of part of his injured finger.
The suit says Lobato was put on leave for one week and could return to work with restrictions. When he returned from work, Lobato says, the defendants would not permit him to work and made no effort to discuss his work restrictions. On June 13, 2017, Lobato was terminated, and he says this was due to his disability and inability to perform his job duties.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to provide employment conditions and relationships where he could safely work free from discrimination and failed to take appropriate action when it knew or should have known of this workplace discrimination.
Lobato seeks trial by jury, general, special, exemplary and punitive damages, reinstatement of his job, costs of suit, attorney fees and all other relief the court deems just and proper. He is represented by attorney Amanda B. Whitten of Bryant Whitten, LLP in Fresno.
Fresno County Superior Court case number 17CECG04379