041191 Man Fired from McDonald's for Having AIDSNovember 30, 2004Cleveland, OH - Russell Rich was fired by McDonald's Corporation in 1997 after a 21 year award winning career in management. After a brief illness in July of 1997 he was forced by McDonald's as a condition for continued employment to give them complete access to his medical records. After discovering he had AIDS, McDonald's made his life difficult and in October of 1997 he was constructively discharged. Rich filed a lawsuit in October of 1998. In October of 2001 a unanimous jury found McDonald's guilty of discrimination and ordered them to pay 5 million dollars in damages. McDonald's has yet to pay a penny. Between the time of termination and the time of trial, Rich suffered 4 life threatening illnesses because he could not get life sustaining medications. Between the time McDonald's found out he had AIDS and the time of termination McDonald's took away Rich's health care insurance even though they were still deducting it from his biweekly pay. They also deducted money for a $109,000.00 life insurance policy which prior to the trial he found out they never took out a policy in his name. Through delays and appeals McDonald's has now dragged this ordeal out to 7 years. Because of an error that occurred with the trial judge, McDonald's has been granted a new trial which will take place April 4, 2005. The evidence or merits of the case have never been in question. McDonald's hopes to out live Russel Rich. A personal message from Russel Rich: "McDonald's Corporation represents America all over the world. They have restaurants located in Africa where 8 out of 10 people are living with HIV/AIDS. Instead of trying to out live me, McDonald's should be leading the way in the fight against HIV/AIDS instead of discriminating against people right here in our own backyard. This year on Worlds AIDS Day, I call upon McDonald's to do the right thing and publicly declare an HIV/AIDS policy, develop and put into place a training program. A program geared toward training their employees and the communities in which they live. The average age of McDonald's work force is between 18-25. The age group most at risk for increases in newly infected cases. McDonald's Corporation needs to do the right thing and pay the verdict and publicly apologize for this terrible injustice. We expect better of McDonald's. Shame on them! They need to be held accountable for their actions! I am not only fighting for justice, I am fighting for my life! What I am doing, I am doing for all of us! This will be my legacy! McDonald's is trying to out live me."
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com |
