On Wednesday, February 19, 2014 a unanimous federal jury in Connecticut returned a verdict in favor of BurnsBarton client ASML US, Inc. During the five-day trial, Plaintiff Fritz St. Ange alleged that ASML retaliated against him when it ended his employment after allowing him to spend 62 weeks on medical leave. Prior to beginning his medical leave, St. Ange made a protected complaint of race harassment (which was determined to be unfounded by ASML, and later dismissed by the Court), and he suffered two workplace injuries in short succession for which he applied for and received workers’ compensation benefits. His doctors determined that St. Ange could not return to work until he had an important surgery to remedy one of his injuries. St. Ange declined the surgery recommended by his doctors, and eventually received a return to work clearance in a light duty capacity. However, ASML determined that St. Ange’s limitations prevented him from performing the essential functions of his position or other available positions for which he was qualified. When it appeared that St. Ange’s limitations would not change, ASML ended his employment and invited him to reapply when he was able. St. Ange sued instead. The jury handed down a complete defense verdict, finding that ASML did not retaliate against St. Ange, but instead ended his employment for legitimate business reasons.
ASML is traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML. ASML develops and supplies lithography machines for the semiconductor industry. ASML’s guiding principle is continuing Moore’s Law towards ever smaller, cheaper, more powerful and energy-efficient semiconductors. ASML is a multinational company with over 13,000 employees and with over 70 locations in 16 countries, including Chandler, AZ, USA.
BurnsBarton PLC is an Arizona employment law firm, specializing in defending good employers.
