Former "Chopped" Winner Accused of Firing Employee While He Cared for His Dying Wife
By Kiri Tannenbaum
A winner of "Chopped" is now the one doing the chopping. According to the New York Post, former "Chopped" champion and chef at The Crosby Hotel, Anthony Paris, reportedly fired his cook, Robert Esselborn, while Esselborn was on Family Medical Leave to care for his dying wife.
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According to the lawsuit, Esselborn, a veteran of the U.S. Army, claims that Paris broke the law by firing him while he was on Family Medical Leave. On December 15, 2013, Esselborn asked for time off to care for Barbara, his wife of 17 years, after she suffered a stroke, reports the New York Post. After staying by his wife's side while she was on life support for four days, Esselborn's suit claims, Paris emailed him demanding to know when he would return to the hotel's kitchen. Esselborn responded to Paris's email saying he would need to reassess on January 1. But rather than wait for Esselborn's update, Paris allegedly fired Esselborn, saying that it was "too long." In that same email, Paris supposedly ordered Esselborn to clean out his locker, despite the fact that his leave had been approved by a human resources director at the hotel. Tragically, Esselborn's wife died the very next day.
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Esselborn then heard nothing from his employer. "No card, nothing, just 'Turn in your key and have a nice day,'" he told the New York Post. Workers on Family Medical Leave are allowed up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick family member, according to Federal law. Esselborn is suing Paris for wrongful termination and seeking unspecified damages. At press time the New York Post had yet to receive comment from The Crosby Hotel or Chef Anthony Paris.
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