A North Miami Beach man says Amazon fired him after he applied for time off under the Family Medical Leave Act.
Johnson Morisseau filed his complaint July 5 in federal court against Amazon.com Services LLC.
According to the complaint, Morisseau notified Amazon on July 3, 2022, of a need for FMLA for treatment of a serious health condition beginning July 4, 2022, and ending July 31, 2022. Two days later, he says he was notified that he was eligible for FMLA and that his requested leave would use up about four weeks.
The next day, Morisseau says Amazon sent him a letter notifying him that he was involuntarily terminated. He says he was denied his protected FMLA time off as a result of Amazon’s wrongful termination. He says no reason was provided for the termination.
He accuses Amazon of violations of FMLA through interference, retaliation
“As a direct and proximate result of defendant’s actions and interference with plaintiff’s request for FMLA, plaintiff was denied the ability to exercise his protected to rights to take time off for the treatment of a serious medical condition,” the complaint states. “Defendant’s actions of direct interference with rights under the FMLA was a violation of the law. ….
“Given the timing of events, there exists a causal connection such that plaintiff’s request for FMLA was clearly the basis for the termination and/or a contributing cause for the termination.”
Morisseau says he has suffered mental anguish, emotional harm, loss of gainful employment, loss of earnings and income and loss of employment benefits.
He seeks judgment against Amazon and compensatory damages including lost earnings, lost employment benefits, costs of seeking new employment, pre-judgment interest and other relief. He also seeks damages for emotional pain, suffering and mental anguish as well as court costs and attorney fees.
Morisseau is being represented by attorney Barbra A. Stern of Fort Lauderdale.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida case number 1:24-cv-22559