HOUSTON – An Iraq War veteran says he was forced to quit his job with a HVAC company because it discriminated against him for having PTSD.
Quinton V. Lee filed a lawsuit against Comfort Systems USA, Inc. in Houston federal court on May 3, asserting the defendant refused to accommodate his condition during his employment.
Lee recalls the business twice sending him out of state on business. According to the original petition, the plaintiff does not travel out of town to familiar places without his wife or close military friends because of his condition.
More than 20 PTSD attacks befell Lee on the initial trip because Comfort Systems did not allow his wife or a fellow veteran accompany him, court documents explain.
They add the mental disorder caused the complainant to have trouble going through TSA.
Lee says he applied for short term disability only to learn the respondent was investigating him in response to his application.
He allegedly experienced harassment and further discrimination, which the suit claims was Comfort Systems’ way “to get him to quit.”
An African American, Lee also faults the defendant for racial discrimination. He says the company paid minority employees such as himself less and deprived him of promotion opportunities on numerous occasions.
Consequently, he seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Alfonso Kennard, Jr. of the law firm Kennard Richard, P.C. in Houston serves as the complainant’s lead counsel.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:18-CV-1422