Everyone knows New York City's kitchens are cutthroat, but some of them are also apparently devoid of human compassion. That's allegedly the case at the Crosby Street Hotel, where former cook Robert Esselborn says he was unceremoniously fired from his position for caring for his dying wife, according to the Post. In a civil suit recently field in Manhattan, Esselborn claims that chef Anthony Paris broke federal law by firing the Staten Island cook after just a four day absence following his wife's stroke.
According to the suit, Esselborn's wife of 17 years, Barbara, suffered a stroke and was placed on life support; Esselborn requested time off in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act, which allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. "He needed to care for his wife and children. He also needed to make critical decisions about how to medically care for his wife and what her wishes would be under the circumstances," says the suit. Esselborn received an email from Paris demanding a return date; when he couldn't supply one, Esselborn says Paris fired him. The next day, Barbara passed away.
Esselborn claims Paris "willfully" failed to report his medical leave to the hotel's HR department "in an effort to retaliate against Esselborn for exercising his federally protected right," as stated to the Post. The suit seeks unspecified damages from the hotel and from Paris, whose claim to fame is a winning stint on the Food Network's competition show Chopped.
