Lawsuit: NJ man sues Amazon over termination for use of medical marijuana, report says

Jai-Leen James | Asbury Park Press

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A New Jersey man is reportedly taking Amazon to federal court.

The tech giant is facing a disability discrimination lawsuit from a former warehouse worker who was allegedly fired for using medical marijuana, according to a report. The plaintiff, only identified as D.J.C., reportedly worked at the Amazon warehouse in Edison.

The lawsuit was initially filed in Middlesex County Superior Court last month and was moved to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on Nov. 8, according to the report.

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According to the report, D.J.C. was prescribed medical marijuana for anxiety and panic disorder. In July 2018, he was ordered to take to a drug test and was subsequently fired for positive test results, according to the report.

When the plaintiff allegedly told company representatives that he was registered in the state’s medical marijuana program, he was informed that he was being placed on paid leave, according to the report.

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D.J.C. was allegedly asked to submit paperwork requesting an accommodation, but he was then fired for failing to notify the company he was a medical marijuana user, according to the report.

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Amazon allegedly has a policy that allows terminated employees to be reconsidered for employment after 120 days, including those fired for failing drug tests, according to the report. The suit alleges that D.J.C. was “blacklisted” by the company and was not able to obtain employment at Whole Foods, an Amazon subsidiary, according to the report.

According to the report, the plaintiff is being represented by Walter Dana Venneman of Gill & Chamas in Woodbridge. D.J.C.'s lawsuit is seeking reinstatement, compensatory damages, punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees and costs, according to the report.

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