ST. LOUIS -- A man says he was discriminated against and his personal medical information was shared with co-workers because he's gay.
Shawn Klaas filed a federal complaint on June 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Americare System, Inc. and St. Charles Assisted Living, for violation of Missouri Human Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Klaas allegedly began working for Sugar Creek Assisted Living, ran by Americare Systems, Inc., approximately three years ago, then left and returned in July 2019 as a Level I Med Aid at their Chestnut Glen Senior Living facility in Saint Peters.
Klaas was then recruited to be on the COVID Unit in early 2020, which paid $5 per hour more than his previous position, the suit says. Klaas then returned to the Chestnut Glen facility in July 2020 and was told on August 3, 2020, he could no longer work the COVID unit because he was HIV positive.
Klaas alleges that his pay was then cut, his supervisors discussed his medical condition with other co-workers and he was discriminated against for being a gay male.
Klaas is represented by Kevin Kasper of Kasper Law Firm, LLC.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:21-cv-00726-DDN