HOUSTON — A Harris County man who worked as a medical assistant at a Houston physician's practice alleges he was discriminated against and eventually fired due to his HIV.
Raphael Gonzalez filed a complaint Dec. 13 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Hillcroft Physicians PA, alleging violation of the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.
Gonzalez, who has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), worked for Hillcroft as a medical assistant. According to his complaint, Gonzalez alleges his HIV status became known to his employer after he contracting the flu in June 2018. The suit states a nurse practitioner in his office shared his medical history with the physician who owned the practice as well as with the human resources department.
The plaintiff alleges he was no longer allowed to administer vaccinations or draw blood from patients and that he became subject to "higher scrutiny" and was eventually fired after his HIV status was revealed. The plaintiff says he has been damaged by the defendant's illegal conduct.
Gonzalez seeks back wages and back benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, trial by jury, interest and all other just relief. He is represented by attorney Gabrielle Klepper of The Spielberger Law Group in Tampa.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-04860