Gonzales V. Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc

Case Background

On February 28, 2020, Roman T. Gonzales filed an employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (“Title VII”), 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and the Idaho Human Rights Act (“IHRA”). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Idaho (Pocatello - Eastern). The case was assigned to Senior Judge B. Lynn Winmill. [Case number: 4:20cv102]

Cause

Roman T. Gonzales (“Plaintiff”), a U.S. citizen residing in Firth, Idaho, initiated legal action against Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (“Defendant”), a Delaware company based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. At all relevant times, Defendant employed over 15 individuals and operated within industries subject to federal anti-discrimination laws under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e and § 12101. Plaintiff, of Latino and Mexican descent, began working for Defendant in February 2005 and transitioned to a Security Officer 2 role by July 2005. He disclosed a longstanding back condition, later aggravated by a 2014 injury, requiring short-term disability and ongoing pain management. Despite adhering to Occupational Medical Program (OMP) guidelines, Plaintiff experienced increasing workplace challenges. By 2015, Plaintiff entered Defendant’s Human Reliability Program (HRP), maintaining compliance with medication p