LATROBE MAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST PACKAGING MANUFACTURER

A Latrobe man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was improperly fired from a packaging manufacturer as retaliation after he reported suspected safety issues.  The Trib reports that Patrick Mitchell claimed he was sick while working at Opco, Inc out of Latrobe, and was fired after 14 months on the job because of a disability that resulted from a suspected cancer diagnosis.  He claimed he was exposed to smoke and chemicals that resulted from working with Styrofoam heated to high temperatures.  He said his managers were aware of his deteriorating health issues, shifted his work hours to the night shift and initially allowed him to take time off work, but eventually fired him by email March 30, 2023, after repeated job absences.  Mitchell is seeking to return to work and, in the alternative, back and future pay from the company. He also is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.