A former truck driver for Maui Fresh International LLC, a wholesaler and distributor of fruits and vegetables, has filed a lawsuit against the company. The driver, Ariel Alfaro, alleges that he was wrongfully fired in 2022 shortly after management discovered he had been hospitalized for almost experiencing a stroke.
Alfaro’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, also includes claims of retaliation, disability discrimination, failure to provide accommodations, failure to engage in the interactive process, and various violations of the state Labor Code.
According to the suit, instead of engaging in any kind of interactive process with Alfaro or showing concern for an employee who had recently experienced a serious medical emergency, the defendants decided to terminate his employment.
Alfaro is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Maui Fresh International LLC did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
Alfaro was hired as a truck driver by Maui Fresh through employment staffing agency Man Staffing in November 2021. Four months later, while driving from Anaheim to Los Angeles, he was involved in an accident that caused significant damage to the truck, requiring it to be towed.
Alfaro reported the accident to his supervisor, who did not inquire about his well-being or send anyone to the scene. Alfaro waited for a tow truck on his own. Despite working 15 hours that day, he was only paid for eight hours, and his complaints were ignored.
In late April 2022, Alfaro started experiencing fatigue and numbness in his hands while at work. Two days later, he went to the emergency room, where doctors determined that he was on the verge of having a stroke.
Although Alfaro informed his boss via text message that he couldn’t come to work that day due to his condition, his supervisor showed no concern for his health and instead asked about the keys to the company truck. Alfaro informed his boss that a co-worker already had the keys.
After being released from the hospital, Alfaro was placed on medical leave until May 1, 2022, with the option to return to work with modified duties. However, when Alfaro called his boss to inform him about his release and work restrictions, the supervisor did not answer. Later that day, Man Staffing called Alfaro to inform him that Maui Fresh did not want him back at work.
Alfaro was ultimately fired in late April 2022. Additionally, because Maui Fresh failed to report the March 2022 traffic accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Alfaro’s driver’s license was suspended, causing him significant distress and financial burden for which he was not reimbursed by the company.
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