PITTSBURGH - A Somerset man says he was discriminated against for his disability and has brought his employer to federal court.
Plaintiff Daniel Sleasman of Somerset filed the complaint on April 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against defendant Xtreme Outdoors LLC.
The defendant purchased Liberty Outdoors LLC, an RV, camper and other outdoor supply manufacturer, and all of its operations in July of 2019, including the manufacturing center at 604 Drum Ave. in Somerset.
Sleasman worked for Liberty LLC since 2016 as a frame assembler at the manufacturing center. In February of 2018, an equipment malfunction caused a rotator cuff tear in the plaintiff's left shoulder and he took medical leave under Workers' Compensation, the suit says.
The plaintiff was then considered disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act, he says.
In January of 2019, Liberty Outdoors executed a mass layoff including the plaintiff.
Xtreme Outdoors hired back almost all laid off manufacturing employees and Sleasman was cleared to return to work in February of 2020; the plaintiff was allegedly told by a supervisor that there would be no issue in rehiring him.
Despite this, Sleasman says he was later told he would not be rehired due to his surgery and disability, and that he was "too high risk" to resume work there.
The defendant is charged with Americans with Disabilities Act violation and Pennsylvania Human Relations Act violation.
The plaintiff is represented by Manes and Narahari LLC of Pittsburgh.