SCRANTON — Pennsylvania-based Gas Field Specialists is facing a lawsuit from the federal government alleging it discriminated against a worker with cancer.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a complaint Sept. 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Gas Field Specialists Inc., alleging violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
According to the EEOC's complaint, Marlin Houghtaling, who suffered from ureteral cancer which spread to his bladder and kidney, was employed by the defendants as an oil rig crew laborer and was laid off in May of 2020, and later terminated by the defendants.
The EEOC alleges Houghtaling was limited in his bodily waste elimination, major bodily functions of normal cell growth and normal operation of his bladder, kidney and urinary tract. The EEOC further claims that in March of 2020, Houghtaling was laid off and told it was because he had cancer and that it did not want him to get COVID-19. The EEOC alleges the defendants did not offer reassignment to Houghtaling and throughout 2020, rehired other laid off employees except for Houghtaling due to his disability.
The EEOC seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Gwendolyn Reams, Acting General Counsel, Debra Lawrence, Regional Attorney and David Staudt, Trial Attorney.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 4:21-CV-01615-CCC