SAN ANTONIO – A former bilingual communications specialist with CPS Energy fired ultimate 12 months for failing to cooperate with an investigation into his conduct has filed a federal lawsuit towards the software, courtroom information display.
Ruben Betancourt accuses officers with the software of retaliation and claims they discriminated towards him as a result of a incapacity, consistent with a duplicate of the civil grievance got Wednesday through Investigates.
Betancourt labored for CPS from January 2022 till he used to be fired on July 7, 2022, after he declined to give you the corporate’s safety staff with an inventory of his prescribed drugs following an incident at its headquarters in overdue April 2022.
Betancourt, who consistent with information had just lately gone through an emergency appendectomy, advised he confirmed up at paintings for the software’s per month board assembly and out of place his safety badge after coming into the construction.
“Still feeling a little off, a little bad,” mentioned Betancourt, who used to be prescribed ache drugs after the surgical procedure and likewise takes drugs for a identified psychological well being sickness.
Betancourt mentioned after misplacing his badge, which used to be later discovered, CPS Energy safety operations workforce started to query his conduct.
“It was an odd situation because it seemed like there was suspicion put onto me for losing my badge when all I was trying to do was find it,” Betancourt mentioned.
Betancourt mentioned he used to be summoned to CPS Energy headquarters the next day to come and wondered through safety.
He mentioned the questions consisted of asking what drugs he used to be taking, the interactions between those drugs in addition to questions on his psychological well being.
CPS officers contend they exposed safety video photos appearing Betancourt at the day of the board assembly making an attempt to pressure into the corporate’s parking storage during the go out gate, information got through Investigates display.
Betancourt mentioned safety workforce prompt him to show over an inventory of medicines prescribed to him however failed to supply some degree of touch with whom to show in that information.
Betancourt advised he then contacted CPS Energy’s human assets division.
“No, you don’t have to send it over to security. You’re going to work with me going forward. Work with me. Don’t provide them any information, especially since they’re asking for medical documentation. Everything on the medical side, you know, with our HIPAA laws,” the HR worker advised Betancourt within the recorded telephone name.
Betancourt additionally recorded telephone conversations with safety through which a workforce member adopted up at the request for the listing of meds.
“Okay, so just to be clear, you know, gave you ‘til… giving you ‘til 5 o’clock today to provide that information, so are you just refusing to provide it or declining?” the safety workforce member mentioned within the May 2022 recording.
Betancourt advised he used to be relaxed offering the asked information to HR however indirectly to the corporate’s safety staff.
Betancourt mentioned he ultimately despatched the listing of meds to HR and the corporate’s supervisor of occupational well being.
He additionally filed a proper grievance towards the safety staff, which used to be closed in June 2022 with none HIPAA or different coverage violations being discovered, CPS Energy information display.
Betancourt used to be put on administrative depart in early May 2022 however used to be accredited to go back to paintings after finishing fitness-for-duty forms that very same month, information display.
Betancourt mentioned he returned to a “cold, hostile” paintings atmosphere and perceived a number of indications that the corporate used to be going to ultimately terminate him.
“I basically felt alone in this corporation. I just felt like I was belittled. I was targeted. Nobody was there to vouch for me,” Betancourt mentioned.
Per week earlier than he used to be officially terminated, Betancourt mentioned his manager sat him down and gave him an extended listing of labor tasks she mentioned he used to be dealing with incorrectly.
Betancourt advised he had gained no earlier paintings evaluations or comments on how he used to be doing.
On July 7, 2022, lower than two weeks earlier than Betancourt would have finished his probationary paintings length, he used to be terminated.
Betancourt used to be fired for no longer being impending, honest or correct in his report back to CPS Energy safety, which led to an “escalated security concern” at paintings, his termination forms states.
He used to be additionally terminated for failing to soundly carry out his paintings tasks, failing to safeguard his safety badge and for failing to turn cooperation all the way through safety’s investigation of him, Betancourt’s termination letter states.
Betancourt, who filed the lawsuit Monday, has requested the courtroom to nominate him an lawyer and for the case to continue with out him having to prepay charges, information display.
Betancourt is recently representing himself, information display.
He up to now advised he misplaced his medical health insurance, filed for chapter, misplaced his automobile and skilled homelessness after his termination ultimate 12 months.
Betancourt’s lawsuit seeks misplaced wages, damages for psychological anguish, emotional ache and for lack of delight in lifestyles.
CPS officers didn’t reply to an e-mail Wednesday morning searching for remark at the lawsuit.
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