A former employee has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical company LNK International, Inc., and its CEO Joseph J. Mollica, alleging violations of multiple federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
According to the complaint filed by plaintiff Alberto Rojas, he began experiencing severe back pain in May 2023 while working as a Machine Helper at LNK International's facility. Despite medical advice restricting him from lifting more than ten pounds due to a spinal deviation and herniated disc, Rojas claims his requests for reasonable accommodations were ignored by his supervisors. Instead of receiving support or adjustments to his workload, Rojas alleges he was subjected to discriminatory remarks about his Colombian nationality and mocked by supervisors in front of colleagues.
Rojas details how he was left without guidance or assistance in navigating FMLA paperwork due to language barriers—documents provided only in English despite his limited proficiency. He asserts that Human Resources failed to engage in any interactive process required under ADA guidelines and instead sent him home without pay or clear instructions on returning to work. When Rojas attempted to resume duties post-recovery, he found himself reassigned to physically demanding roles that exacerbated his condition. Furthermore, Rojas contends that after months of neglect from LNK International’s HR department regarding FMLA documentation deadlines—which were never communicated—he was abruptly terminated under misleading pretenses.
Rojas is pursuing compensation for lost wages, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages among other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court. The plaintiff argues that LNK International's actions not only breached employment laws but also perpetuated a hostile work environment fueled by national origin discrimination.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Jordan El-Hag of El-Hag & Associates P.C. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 2:25-cv-01385.