Department of Labor sues eye doctor over firing of employee

The U.S. Department of Labor is suing a local eye doctor and his Amsterdam practice.

You may remember Dr. David Kwiat. The ophthalmologist claimed civil rights violations and mental anguish in a federal lawsuit against Primal: Your Local Butcher Shop in Saratoga County. This came after the shop refused to serve him because he wouldn’t wear a mask during the state mandate.

That suit was dropped.

Kwiat allegedly fired an employee who raised concerns about his practice’s COVID protocols.

According to the Department of Labor’s lawsuit, the employee raised concerns to their supervisor about the lack of safety protocols, including mask wearing and social distancing.

The person also filed complaints with the state Department of Health. The suit alleges that the employee was fired because of that.