HIV+ Man FIles Lawsuit Against Former Employer

(Clearwater, Florida) A lawsuit has been filed in US District Court by a man who says he was fired by the Library in Clearwater after his bosses learned he is gay and HIV-positive.

The suit alleges that after the Library board learned that Paul S. Ritz had HIV he was subjected to unfair discipline, made to take infectious disease fitness-for-duty examinations even though he is not infectious, had his daily activities monitored and, ultimately, was fired because he is gay.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that it was unable to draw a conclusion if the city had violated federal law, but approved Ritz case to proceed to court.

The city in dismissing Ritz cited as its reason that he had been rude to customers and fellow employees. Ritz maintains he had not received complaints from people using the library.

His suit says that a woman with whom he worked and who the city cited as having been harassed by Ritz told a civil service hearing that she had no problem with Ritz and had gotten along well with him.

``I've been so stressed out,'' the 52-year-old Ritz told the Tampa Triune. ``I've been having health problems, and the doctor says it's probably from stress.''

His six-count suit seeks reinstatement to his job or payment, back pay and unspecified damages.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/06/060804hivSuit.htm

Well on the face of it, it does look like he could win this suit.

Regards,

Lee