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Former employee sues Chateau Montelena for wrongful dismissal
A former employee at Napa’s Chateau Montelena has filed a lawsuit against the winery, alleging that his age and disability resulted in his dismissal in 2016.
As reported by Wine Business, Melvin Juler, who was 63 when he left the winery, claims that issues relating to his age, disability and medical treatment led to him be wrongfully dismissed three years ago.
Juler, who worked at the winery for 30 years and was formerly its ground department manager and landscaper, filed his lawsuit last month at the Napa County Superior Court. He alleges that he was sacked after requesting a leave of absence to seek treatment for Hepatitis C.
Juler was off work from November 2014 until August 2015. He states that the winery fired him after he requested “reasonable accommodation” for his illness.
Chateau Montelena officially terminated Juler’s contract in January 2016 and also alleged that he had sent an unprofessional email to a supervisor while on sick leave.
Juler is seeking damages in addition to lost wages and retirement and employee benefits.
According the court documents, Juler has already filed complaints against the winery with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
Château Montelena was made famous at the Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976. The winery is run by six partners – CEO Bo Barrett, his four siblings and his father’s surviving second wife, Judy – who share ownership together with a board of directors.
Read more:
BO BARRETT: VULTURES HAVE CIRCLED BUT CHÂTEAU MONTELENA IS NOT FOR SALE