Feds Sue Texas Firm for Firing 600-Pound Employee

The federal government has filed suit against BAE Systems alleging the company has violated disability laws by firing a morbidly obese employee at its Houston-area plant.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s lawsuit says the Virginia-based firm that makes military vehicles fired Ronald Kratz II in 2009 for being overweight.

The lawsuit filed in a Houston court says that when the company fired Kratz he was a materials handler who weighed more than 600 pounds. Kratz had worked at the plant in Sealy since 1994.

BAE told the Houston Chronicle it is reviewing the allegations and “will respond at the appropriate time and manner.”

The federal agency says Kratz, who received ‘very good’ employee reviews in 2008 and 2009, was replaced by a worker who was not obese.