Suit: Diagnosis cost ALS victim his job

December 20, 2007
STING Wire


When a Streamwood man was diagnosed with terminal Lou Gerhig’s disease, he claims Wednesday he was forced out of his finance job despite winning recent accolades.

Working at Star Nissan in Niles as a finance director, Joseph Lingle’s speech began to slow down in early 2006. Despite being diagnosed in May 2007 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gerhig’s disease, Lingle won performance contests within the company in January, February, March and June 2007 before he was "constructively discharged" in July, according to a federal suit filed Wednesday.

Lingle filed the Americans with Disabilities Act suit against Star Nissan claiming he had a medical letter stating he could continue his job, but his boss couldn’t “have him working with customers,” the suit stated.

Already diagnosed with diabetes, Lingle began having issues with his speech in the summer of 2006. He officially was diagnosed with ALS on May 29, 2007. On June 25, he was called into a meeting in which his employers asked him if he had thought about quitting or taking a data entry position that paid significantly less, the suit claims.

In the same meeting Lingle was told he should take a 12-week medical leave. A few days later he was forced to take a two-week vacation that was not requested, the suit alleges.

Lingle alleges he was forced to leave his job because he was subject to a hostile working environment and intolerable working conditions.

Lingle is seeking reinstatement to his job or a comparable position as well as lost wages and benefits. If reinstatement is not possible, he is seeking future wages and reimbursement for all possible benefits, as well as fees and other damages.

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