TAMPA, FL – A veteran employee of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute has filed a federal lawsuit against the hospital, alleging unlawful workplace retaliation, harassment, and religious discrimination following his whistleblowing activity.
Moumin Zeinelabdin, who has worked at Moffitt for over 13 years as a transportation team member, claims that after raising concerns about workplace safety violations—including persistent tobacco use inside hospital transportation vans—he faced escalating retaliation from hospital management. His complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, details a pattern of disciplinary actions, workplace hostility, and exclusionary religious practices that, he asserts, violate federal and state Whistleblowing laws and anti-discrimination laws.
“As a hospital dedicated to cancer treatment and patient care, Moffitt has a heightened responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy environment, free of preventable carcinogenic exposure,” said Hassan Shibly, attorney for Zeinelabdin. “Rather than addressing legitimate safety concerns, Moffitt retaliated against Mr. Zeinelabdin for advocating for patient and worker protections alike.”
The complaint cites multiple legal violations, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and Florida’s Private-Sector Whistleblower Act. It alleges that after Zeinelabdin reported the safety violations, he was unfairly disciplined, treated with hostility, and subjected to religiously insensitive workplace conduct, including exclusionary holiday messaging and retaliation for expressing his faith.
“Employees should feel safe reporting hazardous conditions without fear of retribution,” added Shibly. “We will pursue justice to ensure that workers at Moffitt and beyond are protected from such unlawful treatment.”
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, reinstatement or front pay, and expungement of retaliatory disciplinary records.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Muslim Legal, P.A.
Phone: (407) 278-6696
Email: legal@shiblylaw.com
