Nakai v. Friendship House Association of American Indians, Inc.

For over 20 years, Orlando was employed by Friendship House Association of American Indians, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program providing treatment services to Native Americans. The program’s CEO was also Orlando’s mother-in-law. While Orlando and his wife were experiencing marital difficulties, his wife informed the CEO that Orlando had a gun and was angry at Friendship House employees. The CEO first placed Orlando on leave; after his wife obtained a restraining order, the CEO terminated his employment. Orlando then filed suit under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Gov. Code, 12940, for wrongful termination, claiming discrimination on the basis of his marital status and that Friendship House had failed to conduct a reasonable investigation before discharging him. The court of appeal affirmed summary judgment in favor of the defendant. Orlando failed to establish a prima facie case of marital status discrimination and failed to demonstrate his employer had a duty to investigate. Orlando was an at-will employee and his claim was not predicated on alleged animus toward the married state, itself. View "Nakai v. Friendship House Association of American Indians, Inc." on Justia Law