HOUSTON — An Oregon man is suing an offshore drilling company, alleging disability discrimination and wrongful termination.
Justin Black filed a lawsuit Aug. 3 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Ensco International Inc., alleging violation of the Age Discrimination Act.
According to the complaint, in February 2015, Black, a shipboard electronics technician, informed Ensco he was having trouble sleeping and eating and needed impatient treatment. He requested three weeks leave under the FMLA, the suit says.
On March 7, 2015, the lawsuit sates, less than a week before he was to return to work, Black was laid off. The suit says Black was the only member of his crew who was laid off.
The plaintiff alleges Ensco failed to return him to a nearly identical job upon returning from his appointed leave and replaced him with a younger employee from a different division.
Black seeks a trial by jury, compensatory and exemplary damages, attorney fees and legal costs, plus all relief deemed just. He is represented by attorney Darren A. Patin of Pandit Law LLC in New Orleans.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case number 4:16-cv-02314