Attorney Joseph M. Lovretovich Wins Disability Discrimination Case Against Costco

Attorney Joseph M. Lovretovich, founder of JML Law, recently won a case (Case No. LA CV 15-2057 JCG filed in the United States District Court Central District of California) against Costco (defendant) stemming from disability discrimination. According to court documents, Clint Matkovich (plaintiff) was employed at Costco and injured his lower back on the job, and on January 19, 2009, reported the injury to the defendant, sought medical treatment, and was issued temporary work restrictions.

Matkovich, court documents further state, was accommodated by Costco for two years when a doctor eventually said he was “permanently stationary,” at which point Costco determined they could no longer accommodate him and put him on an involuntary leave. The plaintiff then brought action against his former employer for disability discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, failure to engage in the interactive process, and failure to take reasonable steps to prevent discrimination in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

“We won the case on the grounds that Costco didn’t continue to reasonably accommodate him,” said attorney for the plaintiff Lovretovich, who has greatly expanded the rights of all California citizens by winning important court cases and has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. “Clint was a part-time front-end assistant and we received a verdict of $71,000 -- $48,000 in lost earnings and $23,000 in emotional distress. Recently, the trial court awarded us $328,000 in attorneys fees for taking on a case for a low-wage worker and promoting the enforcement of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.”

About Joseph M. Lovretovich, JML Law 

Joseph M. Lovretovich is widely regarded as one of California’s top trial lawyers, and 100% of his practice is devoted to litigation. JML Law specializes in employment law, personal injury and workers’ compensation.

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