Honorio G. Cambronero through his counsel Stephen C. Woodruff filed the complaint in federal court against RJCL Corporation/RNV Construction and general manager Ruel R. Villacrusis.
Cambronero is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, punitive, incidental, expectation and consequential damages, attorney’s fees and costs to redress his unlawful and discriminatory employment policies.
Cambronero was employed by the defendants in April 2000 until he was discharged on April 24, 2007.
According to the complain, in Aug. 2006, Cambronero began to feel chest pains and was later given a referral to undergo urgent medical treatment in the Philippines.
The plaintiff said the defendants agreed to shoulder his medical expenses and gave him $500 and a round trip ticket. Cambronero left for the Philippines on Oct. 4, 2006 but he was informed by the Philippine Heart Center that he had acute coronary syndrome and “new onset angina” and an entire bypass surgery would cost about $11,000.
The complaint stated that the defendants told Cambronero to wait for their go-signal and promised that they would visit him in the Philippines on Dec. 2006.
When the defendants didn’t contact Cambronero again, he sought assistance from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, which facilitated communications with the defendants through the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan.
The records showed that Villacrucis said he was willing to pay the medical expenses.
But he never contacted Cambronero who was forced to go back to Saipan on Feb.3, 2007 without undergoing treatment.
Cambronero received a letter from Villacrucis who told him that his contract would not be renewed effective April 24, 2007 because of the worker’s heart condition.
Woodruff said they tried to reach a settlement agreement with the defendants but their terms were rejected.
The plaintiff has filed six causes of action which include violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; differential treatment on medical benefits; termination based on disability and refusal to provide medical coverage contrary to public policy; breach of contract; breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and specific performance.
On Oct. 16, 2007, Cambronero filed discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which told him he could sue the defendants.
