PITTSBURGH – A former staff nurse at a medical center in Pittsburgh is suing the facility over a claim that he was denied his benefits for time away from work to heal from having surgery due to a herniated disc.
Steven Daniel Todoric filed a lawsuit on Dec. 21 against UPMC St. Margaret in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania citing a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to the suit, while working as a staff nurse at UPMC St. Margaret, Todoric was diagnosed with a herniated disc in November 2014. He underwent surgery on Feb. 18 and took a medical leave and absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act and requested short-term disability benefits, the suit states.
On or about April 9, 2015, Tordoric alleges he received a letter from Jeffrey Steinkopf from UPMC WorkPartners, an entity that manages and oversees medical leaves of absences, stating that his short-term disability requirements had been extended through May 2.
On April 27, Tordoric alleges he received a "final notice" from UPMC WorkPartners that he had exhausted his FMLA leave. On April 28, 2015, he emailed hospital management requesting an extension, which was allegedly refused, and he was terminated the same day, the complaint states.
Tordoric is seeking reinstatement or front pay, compensation for lost benefits, attorney's fees and court costs. He is represented by attorney Christine T. Elzer of the Elzer Law Firm LLC of Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:15-cv-01678-DSC