Former Employee in Fort Smith Files Suit Against Gerber
by June 6, 2016 12:00 am 591 views
A new civil suit filed against Gerber Products Co. by a former employee might land the baby food manufacturer back into hot water.
On May 20, Moges Gembero of Arizona filed suit in U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas, Fort Smith Division.
Gembero, who is hearing impaired, claims the company failed to provide appropriate accommodations for his impairment in accord with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Gerber “only provided an interpreter on a handful of occasions,” and Gembero was often excluded from meetings, training and activities, according to the lawsuit.
Gembero was a microbiologist at the Gerber plant in Fort Smith from April 14, 2014, to March 25, 2015.
Gembero also claims he was routinely harassed because of his disability and race, the lawsuit shows. He is Ethiopian.
Gembero’s attorneys are Allison Koile and Josh Sanford of Sanford Law Firm in Russellville.
Chief District Judge P.K. Holmes III will hear the case.
In a separate matter, the Arkansas Supreme Court on May 26 ruled 4-3 against Gerber, requiring the company to pay workers $3 million for time spent donning and doffing clothing and protective gear.