19-Year Veteran Employee of Anthem Blue Cross and Elevance
Health Alleges that Healthcare Companies Fired Him
During His Painful Recovery from Life-Threatening Heart Bypass
Surgery
BEVERLY
HILLS, Calif., June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mr. Luis Ortiz, a long-term employee in the
underwriting department of Anthem Blue Cross and Elevance Health,
has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was discriminated against and
harassed based on medical condition and disability when the company
fired him during his difficult recovery from an open-heart surgery.
Named as defendants are Elevance Health, Inc., Anthem Blue Cross
Life and Health Insurance Company, Blue Cross of California, the Elevance Health Companies of
California and several other
related entities. (Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No.
24STCV15952). The filing was announced today by the Los Angeles law firm of Helmer Friedman
LLP.
"It is illegal to discriminate against
employees who are recovering from surgery, and it is disappointing
to see these allegations arise in the healthcare industry – the
very industry that people rely on for their health and
wellbeing."
Plaintiff Luis Ortiz, a
California resident,
alleges that on February 17,
2022, after having undergone a coronary angiogram, he was
immediately admitted to the hospital and underwent triple bypass
surgery. His post-surgery recovery, he alleges, was
difficult and rife with complications, including debilitating pain
in his chest and back, and radiating throughout his entire
body.
Mr. Ortiz alleges that he dutifully kept his
employers updated and consistently submitted medical authorization
to support his leave of absence. In August
2022, his doctors authorized an extension of his leave for
six months. But, in an email of October 7,
2022, he was told by his supervisor, Ms. Millet-Riley, that
his leave was unapproved. According to the complaint, she
threatened that he would be terminated for "abandoning his job" if
he did not contact her within 3 business. Mr. Ortiz
alleges that he contacted her immediately on the same
day and told her that he was not abandoning his job, and that he
intended to return to work as soon as his doctors authorized him to
do so. Nonetheless, on October 10,
2022, the complaint asserts that defendants fired Mr. Ortiz
for "job abandonment," an explanation that Mr. Ortiz contends is a
pretext for discrimination and unlawful conduct.
Mr. Ortiz further alleges that, after he was fired,
he applied for a vacant position in underwriting with Anthem Blue
Cross of California (for which he
was eminently qualified) but was denied that position. Mr. Ortiz
alleges that such conduct was discriminatory and
retaliatory. Commenting on California law, Gregory Helmer of Helmer Friedman LLP said, "It
is illegal to discriminate against employees who are recovering
from surgery, and it is disappointing to see these allegations
arise in the healthcare industry – the very industry that people
rely on for their health and wellbeing."
Media Contact
Gregory D Helmer, Helmer Friedman LLP, 1 3103967714 102,
ghelmer@helmerfriedman.com, www.helmerfriedman.com
View original
content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/19-year-veteran-of-anthem-blue-cross-and-elevance-health-alleges-he-was-fired-him-during-recovery-from-heart-bypass-surgery-302184812.html
SOURCE Helmer Friedman LLP