HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A machine operator is suing his former employer after he allegedly was fired for not showing up to work due to a work-related injury.
Angelo Rodriguez filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Sept. 25 against Tredegar Film Products Inc. for his alleged unfair termination.
According to the complaint, Rodriguez suffered an arm injury while working on Sept. 8, 2014 -- also his last day of physical work for Tredegar. He later was fired.
Rodriguez states in his complaint that he spoke to his shift supervisor, Jerry Williams, on Sept. 12, 2014 and told Williams he would be unable to report to work due to his injury.
This allegedly led to Dennis Gabel, a human resource manager, advising Rodriguez not to report to work until they held a meeting.
Rodriguez was eventually terminated from his position in mid-September for being a no-show, despite attaining the proper medical documentation proving he was unable to work and alerting his supervisors of his inability to perform his duties.
Rodriguez is seeking a judgment in the amount of what he would have been paid had Tredegar not wrongfully terminated him, including benefits. He also is requesting punitive damages and legal fees.
He is represented by Ari R. Karpfe of Karpf Karpf & Cerutti PC in Bensalem.