A judge who was presiding over a man’s wrongful termination suit against Apple Inc. has removed himself from the case because he owns more than $1,500 in stock in the technology company.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen Goorvitch made the revelation through a minute order written by his clerk on Tuesday, which also noted that the case will be reassigned by a supervising judge. The minute order does not state the precise amount of Apple stock the judge owns.
Plaintiff Connor Young alleges he was wrongfully fired from his job as a technical specialist at Apple’s Glendale store in March 2022 because he was diabetic and took time off for a persistent cough and other health issues related to his underlying disease.
Young was hired in December 2019 and his initial job title was seasonal product zone specialist, according to the suit filed Aug. 18. Young became ill in January 2022, took sick leave and returned in early February of that year, the suit states.
Young was “harassed and interrogated” about his illness and was fired the next month, the suit states. In their court papers, Apple attorneys deny Young’s allegations and state that even if he can prove that his alleged disabilities or were a major factor in the company’s decision to fire him, the same action would have been taken based on “legitimate, non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory considerations.”
The Apple lawyers also maintain that any work disputes involving Young and the company must be dealt with in arbitration.
First published in the December 9 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
