A former employee has taken legal action against his previous employer, alleging wrongful termination due to disability discrimination. Dale Westmoreland filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on November 19, 2025, accusing Deer Dancer Ranch of violating both federal and state laws by discriminating against him based on his actual or perceived disability.
Westmoreland’s lawsuit claims that his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Texas Labor Code were violated when he was terminated from his position as Ranch Manager at Deer Dancer Ranch. According to the complaint, Westmoreland was hired on November 15, 2023, and was responsible for various tasks including pasture management, livestock feeding, and marketing. He also lived on the ranch property as part of his employment agreement. The case arose after Westmoreland experienced a medical emergency on October 4, 2024, which led to hospitalization and surgery for internal bleeding and other health issues. Despite providing a doctor’s note recommending light duty work upon discharge from the hospital on October 11, 2024, Westmoreland alleges that Jack Jensen, owner of Deer Dancer Ranch, insisted he return to full-duty work without accommodations.
The complaint details how Westmoreland’s request for reasonable accommodations was denied by Jensen who threatened to dock his pay if he did not return to full duties within three days post-hospitalization. The situation escalated when Westmoreland was verbally terminated on October 26, followed by an official termination email two days later. The plaintiff asserts that no meaningful discussion regarding reasonable accommodations took place and accuses Deer Dancer Ranch of failing to engage in an interactive process required by law.
Westmoreland is seeking compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress along with punitive damages due to what he describes as malicious conduct by the defendant. He is also requesting injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees as part of the remedies available under both ADA and Texas Labor Code provisions.
Representing Dale Westmoreland is McKenzie Czabaj from Consumer Justice Law Firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The case is being presided over in the Southern District of Texas under Case No.: 4:25-cv-05571.
Source: 425cv05571_Dale_Wstermoreland_v_Deer_Dancer_Complaint_Southern_District_of_Texaspdf.pdf
