CoreCivic of Tennessee LLC, a prison and detention center management company, will be going to trial to address claims made by a former employee who suffers from anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. The employee alleges that his termination violated both Montana wrongful discharge and disability discrimination laws.
The former worker, who held the position of unit manager in Shelby, Mont., was let go by CoreCivic after being accused of retaliating against a Hispanic subordinate who had reported him for making fun of her accent. CoreCivic states that this was the reason for his firing. However, there are events leading up to the termination that could suggest CoreCivic used the incident as a convenient excuse to dismiss the manager.
The jury will have to consider both perspectives presented in this case. They may choose to believe CoreCivic’s explanation for the termination, or they could conclude that the company seized upon the incident with the Hispanic subordinate as a way to conveniently get rid of the former unit manager. The trial will aim to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the employee’s termination and whether it was in violation of the law.