PHILADELPHIA – A former assistant manager at Wal-Mart is suing the retail giant over a claim that he was fired because of time he took off the job to care for a work-related injury.
Lyle Goodman filed a lawsuit April 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. alleging a violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and claiming wrongful discharge.
While working seven years as an assistant manager for Wal-Mart, Goodman, according to the claim, performed his job well despite various disabilities that included back problems and neuropathy. He says he needed reasonable accommodations that included intermittent time off work to attend doctor’s appointments and the use of a mobile scooter.
Goodman claims he was subjected to discrimination and disparate treatment unlike his non-disabled co-workers. In March 2015, Goodman suffered a work-related injury to his hip, back, and right hand, he alleges, adding that he sought worker’s compensation benefits and missed intermittent time from work to care for his injuries, which included physical therapy.
According to the claim, he was fired in May 2015 in close proximity to seeking worker’s compensation benefits.
Goodman is seeking past lost earnings, future lost earnings, salary, pay increases, promotions, pension and seniority as well as liquidated and/or punitive damages.
Goodman, who is demanding a jury trial, is being represented by attorney Ari R. Karpf of Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti, P.C. of Bensalem.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Court Case number 2:16-cv-01841-JHS