PHILADELPHIA – A shades and blinds company is being sued by a former employee, who says the company violated Family and Medical Leave Act standards and Pennsylvania law, and allegedly fired him in retaliation for filing a claim for workers' compensation benefits.
Christopher Andersen filed a lawsuit Aug. 25, 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Timberlane Inc.
On or about Nov. 5, 2014, Anderson, according to the claim, injured his right index finger while operating machinery as a maintenance worker for Timberlane. On or about Nov. 6, 2014, Anderson told Timberlane, right after surgery, that he had full use of his left hand and limited use of his right, the suit says. According to the lawsuit, Timberlane demanded that he take a leave of absence of an unspecified period, instructing him to return to work only when he regained full use of both of his hands.
According to the claim, Timberlane management never once offered Anderson leave under the FMLA regulations, as practicable upon learning of his need for medical leave for an FMLA-qualifying condition.
On or about Nov. 25, 2014, according to the claim, and while on FMLA-qualifying leave, Andersen was abruptly terminated by Timberlane via telephone, citing his injury and subsequent leave as the reasons for his termination, the suit says.
Anderson is seeking back wages, front pay, and bonuses in an amount to be determined by trial, but not less than $150,000.
Anderson, who is demanding a jury trial, is being represented by attorneys Michael Murphy, Erica E. Kane and Michael C. Groh of Murphy Law Group, L.L.C. in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Court Case number 2:15-cv-04813-MMB