Charles Giampaolo, who survived the Las Vegas mass shooting and witnessed his father-in-law get shot in front of him, has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, for pushing him out of the company.
Giampaolo went back to work at Elevator Service Co. Inc. less than three weeks after the massacre. Although he wasn’t injured in the rampage, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He suffered from insomnia and nightmares, and he had a panic attack at a work event with a crowd of almost 800 people.
The lawsuit alleges that Giampaolo’s bosses made work more difficult for him after he revealed his PTSD diagnosis. They accused him of having a bad attitude and made fun of him for leaving work early to attend therapy sessions. His bosses also took away his managerial duties and reduced his commissions without explanation.
Steve Roth, the company’s co-owner, allegedly told Giampaolo to “suck it up” and that “October has come and gone, and you need to get over it.”
After Giampaolo and his bosses disputed over commissions, he was asked to leave the office. In an email, Roth said it was because of his “unruliness, insubordination and threatening behavior.”
Giampaolo replied: “Your lack of empathy for me and my family has been noted. Never once have you asked how I am. How am I doing or have just pulled me off to the side and asked if I needed to talk. Instead you attack me where it hurts the most. My pockets.”
Giampaolo was demoted in April 2018. Roth’s wife Linda, who is also a co-owner of the company, allegedly compared the shooting to her breast diagnosis she beat. She also accused of him of having a personality disorder. He walked out of the job that day.
Giampaolo seeks unspecified compensatory damages from the lawsuit.
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