US man seeks $2 million from Lenovo after being fired for peeing in hotel lobby
UpdatedAug 24, 2024, 06:40 PM
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NEW YORK – A Lenovo computer salesman has found himself in a swirl of trouble, fired from his job after he says a bladder condition forced him to relieve himself in a lobby of his Times Square hotel.
Mr Richard Becker, 66, is seeking at least US$1.5 million (S$2 million) from the American subsidiary of the Chinese computer giant after being dismissed for the wrongful wee, according to a lawsuit filed on Aug 23 in New York State Supreme Court and seen by AFP.
He accused the company of “discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of New York State and New York City human rights laws”.
According to the suit, Mr Becker was returning to his hotel near New York’s Times Square after a work dinner in February when he found himself “overwhelmed” and forced to answer nature’s call in a vestibule located on a separate floor from the main lobby.
“A co-worker noticed Becker urinating and – out of apparent spite and malice – promptly reported him to HR (human resources), even though Becker’s conduct caused no harm to anyone whatsoever,” the lawsuit said.
Mr Becker said he has been dealing with a chronic bladder condition since 2016 and is under the treatment of a urologist. The court filing said Lenovo colleagues and managers were aware of his condition.
“No sympathy, let alone compliance with the law, would be forthcoming from Lenovo. Instead, within days, Becker was terminated by his employer, following a sham HR ‘investigation’ in which he was not even interviewed,” the lawsuit said.
The man from Long Island, New York, has been unemployed since.
Lenovo did not immediately respond to an after-hours request for comment. AFP
