The owners of No Name Sports Bar, a hospitality establishment in Sebastian, Florida, received a lawsuit from two of its former employees for their alleged disability discrimination.
Local news outlet Sebastian Daily reported that the plaintiffs were identified as Caitlin Leeds and Yesenia Morales, who brought the case against Damien and Bonnie Fey Gilliams and their son Damien Lee to the United States District Court.
According to the lawsuit, the Gilliams family allegedly violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 after they had dismissed Leeds and Morales, refused to provide them their last paychecks, and even made discriminatory comments about their medical conditions.
The lawsuit sought compensatory damages to both complainants at $15,000 each, as well as $1 million worth of punitive damages and other legal costs and fees.
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Bar Owners Allegedly Discriminate Disabled Staff
The lawsuit revealed that Morales, who worked on the bar from August 2023 to January 2024, has hypoglycemia, and she experienced a low blood sugar-induced medical emergency. She was found unconscious but was eventually taken to hospital for treatment. Once there, she informed her employer about what happened.
However, she was terminated the next day due to her medical condition, the lawsuit added. She was eventually summoned by Damien Gilliams, allegedly telling her that her medical condition made her "unreliable."
On the other hand, Leeds, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, experienced a medical episode during her shift on April 30, 2024 that caused intense pain and loss of muscle control. A coworker was able to cover for the rest of her shift as she went home to recover.
The next day, Leeds received a text from Gilliams saying that she was suspended from work due to the medical incident. After her suspension, Leeds returned to work but was informed that she was not scheduled for the upcoming week, and was eventually informed that she was fired because of her medical condition.
Court documents alleged that the Gilliamses berated her upon informing of her termination.
No Name has also been involved in a row against local government officials due to the bar's leaky septic tank.
CBS's West Palm Beach affiliate reported in December that the bar, located near the Indian River Lagoon, was allegedly seeping raw sewage, which prompted the Indian River County and the Department of Health.
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