Wrongful Termination Based on Documented Performance Versus Illness Discrimination

A former employee sued a company, claiming wrongful termination following a period of sick leave, arguing the dismissal was based on health grounds and was thus discriminatory, while the employer maintained the termination was justified by manifest professional inadequacy demonstrated through documented performance issues prior to the leave. The appellate court upheld the lower court's decision, reasoning that the termination was validly based on documented pre-existing professional shortcomings, which were distinct from and temporally unrelated to the subsequent illness, thereby precluding a finding of discrimination based on health status.