A former employee has filed a lawsuit against his former employers, Grace Industries LLC, The Haugland Group LLC, and individuals Sean Gruebert and Daniel Heyburn, claiming discrimination and retaliation related to his disability.
Perry Jacobs submitted the complaint on December 13, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Jacobs, who worked as a Senior Construction Supervisor for the companies starting in October 2022, claims he was discriminated against and retaliated against after disclosing his mental health condition and taking medical leave.
He worked on a project for Consolidated Edison Inc. (ConEd) until his termination on January 4, 2024. According to the complaint, after revealing his mental health struggles, Jacobs was marginalized, leading to a hostile work environment.
He alleges the situation caused severe mental distress and suicidal thoughts. Jacobs further claims that despite being cleared by a psychiatrist to return to work in December 2023, he was not allowed to return and was terminated under false pretenses related to videos made nearly a year earlier.
Jacobs accuses Grace Industries LLC and The Haugland Group LLC of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), and New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) by failing to accommodate his disability and retaliating against him for seeking medical help.
He is seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney fees, and other relief as deemed appropriate by the court.
Jacobs is represented by attorneys Alexandra Berke and Melissa Romain of Berke-Weiss Law PLLC. The case is filed under Case ID: 1:24-cv-08530.