HIV-Positive Couple Sues for Firing

An HIV-positive couple in Naples, Fla. is suing their former employer for allegedly firing them because of their HIV status.

Timothy Robertson, 29, was hired as an assistant manager for the Ridgway Bar & Grill in June, and his parter, 36-year-old Steven Ray “Forrest” Chaplin, was hired as a server four months later, Naples News reports. During their time at the restaurant, they said they were both given commendations for good work.

Months later, Robertson told the restaurant's vice president Suzanne Honeycutt that he is HIV positive, because she said she noticed he was often sick. A month later, on May 20, Robertson and Chaplin started to receive letters about poor performance, and then on June 6, Honeycutt and owner Anthony Ridgway fired them.

Robertson and Chaplin are both in deteriorating health, and have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, and have filed a lawsuit as well.