Richard Becker, a 66-year-old Lenovo computer salesman, has found himself in significant legal trouble after being dismissed from his position for an incident that occurred at his Times Square hotel. Becker is now seeking at least $1.5 million from Lenovo’s American branch, alleging wrongful termination due to discrimination related to his disability.
According to a lawsuit filed on Friday in New York State Supreme Court and reviewed by AFP, Becker claims that a bladder condition forced him to urinate in a hotel vestibule—located on a separate floor from the main lobby—after returning from a work dinner in February. The lawsuit accuses Lenovo of “discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of New York State and New York City human rights laws.”
The suit details that a coworker saw Becker urinating and reported him to HR with what Becker describes as “spite and malice,” despite his actions causing no harm. Becker has been managing a chronic bladder condition since 2016, under the care of a urologist, and his condition was known to his Lenovo colleagues and managers.
The lawsuit further claims that Lenovo showed no sympathy or legal compliance, leading to Becker’s termination following a purportedly unfair HR investigation, where he was not interviewed. Since his dismissal, Becker has been unemployed.
Lenovo has not yet responded to the after-hours request for comment.