Texas dentist sues over unlawful termination

A dentist who is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves is suing his former employer, alleging that he was terminated after being called up for deployment.

On February 24, Jeffrey T. Shelton, DDS, of Gregg County, TX, filed a lawsuit against GS Physician Services, doing business as Good Shepherd Health System, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division.

According to the complaint, in January 2007, Dr. Shelton left private practice and began working as a dentist at Good Shepherd, located in Longview, TX. Three years later, Dr. Shelton was commissioned as a major in the U.S. Army and has been a member of the U.S. Army Reserves ever since.

In late 2010/early 2011, Dr. Shelton was told that he would be deployed for 90 days, according to the complaint. After receiving his deployment orders, Dr. Shelton notified his employers. In mid-January 2011, he was told he was being terminated and that the termination would coincide with his deployment, according to the lawsuit.

Good Shepherd is accused of violating the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment against individuals who have been called to duty in the uniformed services, the complaint noted.

Dr. Shelton is seeking more than $650,000 in damages for economic losses in the form of lost patients/business, plus an award of punitive damages, attorney's fees, interest, and court costs.