Kaiser Harassed Muslim Out of Job, He Says

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Kaiser staff's bigoted comments and an unjust disciplinary investigation drove a Middle Eastern man to quit his job, he claims in court.

Max Sabra, a clinical technology manager earning $113,000 in 2014, sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser Permanente International, Chief Operating Officer Richard Trogman, former co-worker Michael Eion, Executive Director Scott Nix and Interim Executive Director Frank Makel. Sabra's lawsuit alleges discrimination on the basis of national origin, race/color and religion, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to take all necessary steps to stop discrimination, harassment or retaliation, harassment and wrongful termination.

Sabra claims Trogman and others asked him repeatedly about his religion and nationality, questioned whether he was American, demanded to know "which country he was from," and criticized his beard, which Sabra says he grows "in accordance with his religious beliefs."

Sabra accuses Eion of calling him a "sand nigger," and Nix of saying "I didn't know they allowed the Taliban in here!"

Sabra says he was excluded from meetings, then criticized for missing them. His mental health deteriorated as a result and he needed a six-week leave, he says. Not long after Sabra came back, he was put on administrative leave with no explanation, and quit, he says.

Max Sabra seeks back pay, front pay, interest, compensatory, consequential and exemplary damages, statutory penalties, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, costs and a jury trial. He is represented by Joseph S. Farzam and Nazo L. Koulloukian of the Joseph Farzam Law Firm in Los Angeles.

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