In a striking legal confrontation, an individual is taking on a corporate giant over allegations of disability discrimination and wrongful termination. Glen Shields filed a complaint against Epiq Global Business Transformation Solutions, LLC, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on April 1, 2025. Shields accuses the company of violating multiple provisions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) after he was terminated while on medical leave for cataract surgery.
Glen Shields has worked for Epiq Global since 1998 as an Office Service Specialist. His responsibilities included administrative tasks such as mail handling and reception services. In May 2024, Shields began experiencing vision impairment due to cataracts and sought medical advice. His doctor recommended surgery scheduled for September 2024 and advised him to take medical leave from May to November 2024 to prepare for and recover from the procedure. Shields submitted all necessary medical documentation to his employer's human resources department, expecting understanding and support from his long-time employer.
Initially, Epiq Global approved Shields' medical leave. However, in July 2024, he was abruptly informed that the company could no longer accommodate his absence and was subsequently terminated from his position. This decision came despite his two decades of service to the company. Shields alleges that this action was not only discriminatory but also retaliatory because it occurred after he disclosed his disability and requested accommodations.
The lawsuit outlines several causes of action including disability discrimination, failure to engage in a good faith interactive process, failure to provide reasonable accommodations, retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy—all under FEHA statutes. "Defendant saw Plaintiff as a liability," the complaint states bluntly about Epiq Global's actions towards Shields during his vulnerable period.
Shields seeks damages exceeding $25,000 along with punitive damages for what he describes as malicious conduct by Epiq Global's management team who allegedly acted with full knowledge of the harm they were causing him. He also requests injunctive relief compelling reinstatement to his previous position or equivalent employment opportunities within the company.
Representing Glen Shields is attorney Edgar Manukyan from Manukyan Law Firm APC., who emphasizes that Shield’s rights were willfully violated by Epiq Global’s actions. The case is being overseen by Judge Sahar Enayati under Case ID CGC-25-623879.