Allegations of Disability Discrimination Surface in High-Stakes Legal Battle
Lenovo computer salesman is embroiled in a significant legal dispute after claiming he was unjustly fired for urinating in the lobby of his Times Square hotel. Richard Becker, 66, is now seeking at least $1.5 million from the American subsidiary of the Chinese tech giant, asserting wrongful termination due to a medical condition.
A bladder condition
Becker, who has been managing a chronic bladder condition since 2016, filed a lawsuit on Friday in New York State Supreme Court, accusing Lenovo of “discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of New York State and New York City human rights laws.”
The incident in question occurred in February when Becker, following a work dinner, found himself “overwhelmed” upon returning to his hotel near Times Square. According to the lawsuit, he was forced to relieve himself in a vestibule on a different floor from the main lobby.
“Malicious” reporting leads to HR investigation
“A coworker noticed Becker urinating, and — out of apparent spite and malice — promptly reported him to HR, even though Becker’s conduct caused no harm to anyone whatsoever,” the lawsuit stated.
Despite his colleagues and managers being aware of his medical condition, Becker claims that Lenovo showed “no sympathy, let alone compliance with the law.” The lawsuit alleges that within days, Becker was terminated following a “sham HR ‘investigation’ in which he was not even interviewed.”
Since his termination, the Long Island resident has been unemployed. The lawsuit, seen by AFP, underscores the severe professional and personal impact of the incident on Becker’s life.
Lenovo’s silence
Lenovo has not yet responded to an after-hours request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
As this legal battle unfolds, it brings to light significant issues of workplace discrimination and the treatment of employees with medical conditions. The outcome could set a precedent for how companies handle similar situations in the future.