Chad Wheeler, a seasoned Project Design Specialist, has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging egregious disability discrimination and wrongful termination. The complaint was filed on March 27, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, against Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape, Inc., along with individuals Darrell Hutchison and Sue Khorasani. Wheeler claims that he was unjustly terminated while recovering from a work-related injury and after making legally protected complaints about discrimination and retaliation.
The lawsuit details Wheeler's allegations against Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape, Inc., where he worked as a Project Design Specialist since August 2020. According to the complaint, Wheeler sustained an industrial injury on March 9, 2022, which affected his thumb, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Despite notifying his supervisor Darrell Hutchison about the injury and providing medical documentation for necessary accommodations, Wheeler alleges that he faced ridicule and threats not to file a workers' compensation claim. "Where is my Bible all that thumb needs is a good smack," Hutchison allegedly texted Wheeler in response to his injury update.
Wheeler further accuses Black Diamond's management of retaliating against him by stripping him of job duties and reducing his commission by 60% due to his inability to work following the injury. He also claims that the company's owner advised him not to seek treatment from their occupational health providers but rather through his own doctor. This advice led to complications in receiving appropriate medical care for his injuries.
Despite providing doctor's notes indicating restricted activities due to his injuries throughout March into June 2022, Wheeler alleges that Black Diamond failed to accommodate these restrictions adequately. Instead of offering reasonable adjustments or additional leave as required under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the company allegedly attempted to force him into a new role without proper training or equipment.
In addition to seeking compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress caused by the alleged discrimination and retaliation, Wheeler is pursuing punitive damages against Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape for their purported malicious conduct. The complaint outlines multiple causes of action including failure to engage in an interactive process under FEHA guidelines; harassment; retaliation; whistleblower retaliation; failure to prevent discrimination; harassment; retaliation violations under FEHA; wrongful termination violating public policy principles outlined within California Government Code sections related specifically towards employment practices such as those found within Labor Code section 132(a).
Representing Chad Wheeler is attorney Chambord Benton-Hayes from Benton Employment Law PC based out of Oakland California while defendants have yet been named any legal representation publicly available records show no indication thus far regarding potential defense counsel involved this case moving forward through judicial system proceedings ahead scheduled trial dates pending resolution disputes presented herein before Honorable Judge presiding over matter Case ID: 25CV462257