Mohamed Saifudeen v. Ralph's Grocery Company, et al.

Summary

A California state court jury heard opening statements July 18 in an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Ralphs grocery employee claiming he was fired after complaining about supposed failure to accommodate his work schedule for religious obligations.

Plaintiff Mohamed Saifudeen alleges that management at multiple Ralphs grocery stores denied his requests for Saturdays off to attend Islamic religious services, in addition to denying requests to change his schedule during the Ramadan holiday. He accuses the store of manufacturing excuses to fire him in 2016 after he complained to his union, but Ralphs maintains Saifudeen was fired legally due to insubordination and failure to satisfactorily perform his job as manager of the dairy department.