Published on: September 16, 2025, 11:46h.
Updated on: September 16, 2025, 11:59h.
- Ex-manager claims termination linked to cancer recovery
- Lawsuit references ADA, Ohio law, and workplace discrimination
- Demands compensation, reinstatement, or damages for wrongful dismissal
An ex-poker room manager at Hollywood Casino in Columbus, Ohio, whose tracheotomy—part of his cancer treatment—was deemed “unsightly” is suing PENN Entertainment, the casino’s owner.
Michael Conroy asserts that he faced discrimination due to his cancer diagnosis and treatment, leading to his termination.
On the day he was let go, a manager allegedly suggested he might be reconsidered for employment “if his health improved,” as noted in the lawsuit.
Challenges from Human Resources
Filed on September 12 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the complaint states that Conroy was dismissed on May 22 after management raised doubts about his work capacity during treatment. The lawsuit seeks damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Ohio civil rights statutes.
Conroy joined the casino in June 2022 as an assistant shift manager in the poker room and earned a promotion to shift manager seven months later, according to the complaint.
In October 2023, he was diagnosed with cancer, which resulted in him starting chemotherapy and radiation therapy. He took a federally protected medical leave in early 2025 and returned to his position in February, as per the details in the lawsuit.
Situations worsened in March when he tripped on two occasions while at work – once on a customer’s bag and again on damaged carpet. He was subsequently summoned for a meeting with human resources.
During the meeting, an HR staff member allegedly remarked it appeared “unsightly” for customers to see him speaking through a tracheotomy tube and requested he mask it. She also inquired about the effects of his medication on his ability to work, according to the complaint.
That same afternoon, Conroy was put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). He contends that the guidelines of the plan were ambiguous and that promised follow-up meetings with supervisors never took place. Despite his numerous requests for clear criteria, he reported never obtaining them.
Claims of Malicious Intent
In June, Conroy lodged a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which later issued a “Notice of Right to Sue” in July, allowing him to advance his case to court.
The lawsuit contends that PENN breached both federal and state laws by discriminating against Conroy based on his disability, retaliating against him, and neglecting to offer reasonable accommodations. It seeks back wages, reinstatement or future wages, as well as compensatory and punitive damages, legal fees, and other forms of relief.
The complaint emphasizes that the “defendant acted willfully, maliciously, and with a conscious or reckless disregard for the Plaintiff’s rights.”
PENN Entertainment has yet to respond to the lawsuit, and a company spokesperson did not provide immediate remarks on the matter.