Allegedly Fired for Being Too Fat, 680-Pound Man Fights Back, Finds Ally in EEOC
Ronald Kratz II wasn’t having any problem performing his desk job at a company that manufactures military vehicles and had been getting good evaluations of his work.
But BAE Systems fired the 680-pound man anyway, he says, due to his weight. Kratz fought back, finding an ally in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It investigated and eventually sued the company in federal court in Houston, contending that the employer discriminated against him both for his disability and because of a perception that he was disabled, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The company simply assumed Kratz couldn’t handle his inventory management job, the suit says. Nor, it contends, did the company make any effort to accommodate Kratz.
BAE Systems tells the Chronicle it is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond at an appropriate time, in an appropriate manner.
Attorney John Griffin Jr. of Marek, Griffin & Knaupp represents employees. He calls the matter a classic disability discrimination case.
Meanwhile, Kratz has had weight-loss surgery and now weighs about 300 pounds, according to the article.
