Juan D. Garcia, a former employee of a California corporation, has filed a lawsuit alleging multiple violations of employment laws, including associational disability discrimination and wrongful termination. The complaint was filed by Juan D. Garcia in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on December 30, 2024, against Sine Qua Non, Inc.
The case centers around Garcia's claim that he was unjustly terminated from his position as a maintenance worker and grape picker after requesting a short leave to care for his disabled mother and sister. According to the complaint, Garcia informed his supervisor in December 2020 about his need for a two-week leave due to family medical emergencies. Despite initially acknowledging the request, Sine Qua Non allegedly denied the leave and subsequently terminated Garcia’s employment when he attempted to return in January 2021. The plaintiff asserts that this action was discriminatory based on his association with family members with disabilities.
Garcia's legal team argues that Sine Qua Non failed to engage in an interactive process to accommodate his request for leave and retaliated against him for exercising his rights under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). "Plaintiff was informed by SQN that his termination was substantially motivated by his demand for reasonable accommodations," states the complaint. Furthermore, Garcia accuses the company of interfering with his CFRA rights by denying necessary leave and using it as a negative factor in employment decisions.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief from the court, including economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages to deter future misconduct by employers like Sine Qua Non, and injunctive relief. Additionally, Garcia is pursuing reimbursement for legal fees incurred during this litigation process.
Representing Juan D. Garcia are attorneys Mehrdad Bokhour from Bokhour Law Group P.C., and Michelle Eshaghian Bokhour from Eshaghian Law PC. The case is being overseen by the Ventura Superior Court under Case No.: 2024 CLI0E03501.