NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A former Nashville paramedic has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Aaron Read says Metro failed to accommodate his PTSD and punished him for seeking help after he responded to a multi-fatality incident involving children in January 2022, according to the complaint obtained by WSMV. He contends that he requested support and time off, but did not receive the appropriate accommodations.
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The lawsuit also claims Read raised concerns about the department’s limited behavioral health support and its failure to comply with the James “Dustin” Samples Act, which protects first responders with PTSD. According to the suit, supervisors did not provide reasonable accommodations or refer him for a mental health evaluation.
Read says that in April 2024, he was accused of documentation errors and threatened with discipline and loss of his paramedic license. He seeks a finding that the city violated the ADA, reinstatement or front pay, expungement of negative records, policy and training changes to comply with the ADA and the James “Dustin” Samples Act, and an injunction against further discrimination or retaliation. He is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
The Nashville Fire Department declined to comment on pending litigation.
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