Illegal Immigrant To Sue Employer After Work Injury

Leonardo Is Suing Owner Of Horse Boarding Ranch In Escondido After Injuring Fingers

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — An illegal immigrant is suing his Escondido employer after he said his employer threatened to deport him after he experienced a gruesome injury. Leonardo, an illegal immigrant, said his worries began in April at a horse boarding ranch in Escondido, where he worked for more than two years. When he touched some metal on a horse walking machine, he got a big shock. “My knees buckled,” he said. “It was great pain.” The electricity melted his wedding ring into his finger, partially severing it.

Several skin grafts later, he’s not sure if his finger will heal. Doctors contacted the ranch owner to submit a workers’ compensation claim, which did not go well. “The owner told my pregnant wife, don’t claim workers’ comp. or I’ll have Leonardo deported and you’ll raise the child alone,” said Leonardo. Dan Gilleon, Leonardo’s attorney, said this type of threat is often heard by injured immigrants. The owner of the ranch, Michell Hunter said there was no proof the incident happened on the property. “I made no threat of deportation,” said Hunter. “I made no threat of deportation. We plan to fight this suit.”

In 2005, the California Supreme Court ruled illegal immigrants are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. “They are human beings and they are entitled to basic rights, and these are very basic rights,” said Gilleon. Because the state does not ask about immigrant status, there is no way to estimate how many benefits illegal immigrants have received.Critics say the ruling means more incentive for illegal aliens to continue to come to the United States and it would be rewarding people for coming into the country illegally. Leonardo said it should not be about rewards, but about fair treatment. “It’s not right. We work hard,” he said. “Workers should be taken care of.”

Article source: http://www.10news.com/news/23586085/detail.html?treets=sand&taf=sand

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