Castillo v. Hollis Deli & Grill Corp.

**Court Rules in Favor of Worker Fired While Seeking Family Medical Leave** This case involved an employee who was terminated after requesting time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to care for a family member's serious health condition. The worker had informed her employer that she needed leave and was in the process of getting the required medical documentation when the company fired her. The court sided with the employee, finding that she had properly notified her employer about needing FMLA leave. Most importantly, the court ruled that the employer violated federal law by firing her before giving her the required 15 days to obtain medical certification from a doctor. The company jumped the gun by terminating her employment while she was still gathering the necessary paperwork. This ruling reinforces important protections for workers who need family or medical leave. Employers cannot rush to fire employees who request FMLA leave just because they haven't yet submitted complete medical documentation. Workers have a legal right to reasonable time to get the required doctor's certification, and employers who fire them during this process can face legal consequences for interfering with FMLA rights.