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Alien worker files lawsuit vs ex-employer, Immigration officer
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Posted on Dec 27 2005
An alien worker has filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court against his former employer and an Immigration investigator.
Rajasuriya Prematilaka sued Efrain F. Camacho and EFC Services Corp. and Immigration investigator Richard T.Lizama.
When contacted by the Saipan Tribune for comment yesterday, Camacho said he received a letter from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that dismissed Prematilaka’s complaint for lack of grounds.
Camacho said two locals applied for the position of a security guard so he had not choice but to terminate Prematilaka, according to the law.
Prematilaka, through counsel Stephen C. Woodruff, asked the U.S. District Court to order the defendants to pay him damages, attorney’s fees and court costs.
The plaintiff, a Sri Lankan, filed the discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January 2005.
Woodruff said EEOC subsequently closed its file on this case and gave Prematilaka the right to sue.
The lawyer said that Lizama “acted collusively with Camacho utilizing his official power under color of CNMI law to cause a deportation action to be filed against plaintiff.”
He said Lizama also caused the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Prematilaka and the latter’s actual wrongful arrest.
Woodruff said his client is entitled to damages for wages denied or lost due to defendants’ violations of applicable law.
