In a recent court filing, John Botros, a former award-winning salesman for Olympus Corporation of the Americas, Inc., has filed a lawsuit against his former employer. The complaint alleges that Botros was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for taking medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and due to disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Botros claims that after taking approved FMLA leave for hip replacement surgery in 2024, his supervisor Don White undermined him with customers and falsely portrayed him as a poor performer. This led to his termination just days before he was scheduled to take additional FMLA leave for another surgery. The lawsuit seeks damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
Botros’s legal team argues that Olympus’s actions were pretextual and discriminatory, pointing out inconsistencies in the company’s reasons for his dismissal. They highlight that Botros was terminated shortly after requesting additional FMLA leave and that Olympus failed to provide legitimate reasons for his firing. The case underscores significant concerns about employer compliance with federal laws designed to protect employees needing medical leave or accommodations due to disabilities.
Source: 425cv04526_John_Botros_v_Olympus_Corporation_Original_Complaint_Southern_District_of_Texas.pdf
