An Orlando car dealership is facing a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by an ex-employer. The lawsuit cites violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
According to the male employee, who filed his lawsuit on Oct. 26 in the Middle District of Florida U.S. District Court, Sun State Ford terminated him after he attempted to exercise the employee rights offered him under the FMLA. The complaint states that the man became disabled in 2015 and required FMLA protection while he took leave to recover. However, the man says that his wages were lowered when he returned to work, and later he was wrongfully terminated.
According to the plaintiff, Sun State Ford owes him financial damages because he was terminated in retaliation for his request to go on medical leave under the FMLA. The plaintiff has asked for a jury trial in addition to remuneration for compensatory damages, interest, legal fees, punitive damages and other relief the court deems appropriate.
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is a federal law that protects employees who are experiencing circumstances relating to their family and health that require them to take temporary leave from their job. Employers are required to honor the terms of the FMLA or face legal consequences and liabilities for violating it.
Floridians who believe that their employee rights have been violated by their employers may want to discuss their situations with an employment law attorney familiar with state and federal statutes.Employees who have suffered financial injuries or have inappropriately lost their jobs related to an FMLA or other employment law violations may be able to seek financial compensation in federal court.
Source: Florida Record, “Employee sues car dealer for alleged wrongful termination,” Oct. 27, 2016
