A former program manager for the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade is suing the nonprofit, alleging that he was wrongfully fired in January for having a migraine headache disability and for taking time off to deal with the health issue.
Jose Loera’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit Family Rights Act discrimination, retaliation, failure to provide accommodations and engage in the interactive process, wrongful termination and failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation. He seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
An LABC representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit filed Feb. 26. The organization was founded in 1968 to champion equity and social justice, focusing on improving quality of life for underserved residents through youth development, mentorship, financial literacy, health education and economic development.
Loera was hired as a program manager in October 2023 and his duties included managing staffing, overseeing daily operations and ensuring program goals were met. He earned $80,000 annually.
“Simply put, plaintiff was a model employee,” the suit states.
But Loera began suffering from chronic migraine headaches in September 2025 and obtained treatment from a doctor. He was told he had a cyst that needed removal and that he would have to take time off from last September until January of this year for surgery and recovery. He was hopeful management would understand his situation and he updated the organization in December on his medical condition, the suit states.
Before going back to work in January, Loera brought all medical documents needed for a smooth return, the suit states.
However, matters “quickly took a turn for the worse” and Loera was terminated on Jan. 5, leaving him in “utter shock as he never would have imagined that taking a medical leave of absence due to his disability would have these repercussions” after his years of loyal service, according to the complaint.
Loera was “embarrassed, ashamed, emotionally hurt and in financial desperation” for being terminated, allegedly due to his medical disability and for taking time off, the suit states.