Former 32 Year Bus Driver Sues Los Angeles MTA (Metro)

LOS ANGELES - March 9, 2016 - PRLog -- 32 year bus employee Michael Grant was terminated from his position as a bus driver at the MTA after a patron allegedly boarded the bus asking for change for a $100 bill. The patron was given a free ride on Christmas Eve but was allegedly unhappy with the bus driver's tone.   Throughout the ride, the passenger Ms. Sharon Taylor - a 4 time convicted criminal including 2 counts of prostitution, welfare fraud and drug charges - then allegedly spit in Mr. Grants face as she was preparing to leave the bus.  Mr. Grant allegedly pushed her in self-defense and a tussle ensued on the bus.  The MTA did not pay Ms. Taylor any money for any injuries she allegedly suffered as a result of this incident.  Ms. Taylor allegedly made a complaint against the bus operator, Mr. Grant and the MTA claims that it fired Mr. Grant as a result of this complaint.

Mr. Grant is alleging that termination based on his actions was not justified and he is alleging that the MTA was motivated in terminating his employment due to his history of disabilities and leaves of absences.  Mr. Grant suffered from reoccurring injuries to his back, wrists, and knees.  3 months prior to being terminated, Mr. Grant returned from a leave of absence.  A few days prior to the MTA making the decision to terminate Mr. Grant, he settled a long standing workers compensation case against the MTA.  Mr. Grant alleges that the MTA encourages its supervisors to be overly critical of bus operators who have taken multiple leaves of absences.  Mr. Grant alleges that the MTA has fired many other bus operators shortly after returning for leaves of absences in situations where the actions taken did not warrant termination.  Mr. Grant alleges that the MTA's policy states that a bus operator is allowed to defend himself against a passenger who assaults him and Mr. Grant alleges that many other bus operators in the past have not been fired after reacting to an assault in even more severe ways.

Trial in this matter is set in Stanley Mosk Courthouse sometime in 2016.