PHILADELPHIA — An employee is suing a food service facility, citing alleged failure to protect.
Richard Bennett filed a complaint on Jan. 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Aramark, alleging violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
According to the complaint, in December 2017, while doing pipe repairs for defendant, Bennett realized that asbestos insulation was surrounding the pipes he was to repair. He claims he immediately contacted defendant to inform it that the asbestos needed to be removed before he could continue any work on the pipes.
Plaintiff claims his request was denied and he was directed to continue working. When he informed the OSHA hotline and reported defendant's alleged safety violation, he was suspended for what the employer cited as poor work performance and terminated from his employment on Feb. 14, 2018.
The plaintiff holds Aramark responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to protect employees who make a complaint about a violation of any provision of the statutes or regulations promulgated under OSHA.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks award of costs, expenses, damages and all other equitable and legal relief as the court deems just, proper and appropriate. He is represented by Michelle Dempsky of Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC in Philadelphia.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case No. is 2:19-cv-00444-MMB.