LOS ANGELES – An African-American pilot alleges he was wrongfully terminated by an Arizona-based airline.
Wayne Coffey filed a complaint on May 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Mesa Airlines Inc. citing the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff began his employment with the defendant in February 2015. He alleges he was having medical issues with his eyes beginning in June 2015 and called in sick at various times for the next two months. The suit states he was cleared to return to work in August 2015 but the defendant removed him for the remainder of his scheduled shifts in August and from the master seniority list. He was terminated on Nov. 5, 2015, the suit states.
The plaintiff holds Mesa Airlines Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly subjected plaintiff to less favorable terms and conditions of employment because of his disability, engaged in reckless disregard of plaintiff’s legal rights under the FMLA, and retaliated against plaintiff by terminating his employment.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks relief against the defendant; award of liquidated, general and punitive damages; attorney’s fees; costs; interest; and any further relief that the court deems just. He is represented by Isaac P. Hernandez of Hernandez Law Firm PLC in Phoenix.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:18-cv-03688