A Detroit resident has taken legal action against a major automotive company, alleging employment discrimination and wrongful termination. Antonio T. Robinson, Sr. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on January 26, 2026, against Ford Motor Company. The lawsuit accuses Ford of mishandling Robinson’s medical restrictions following a work-related injury and retaliating against him for asserting his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Robinson began working for Ford Motor Company on November 16, 2021. His troubles began after he sustained a back injury at work on November 28, 2022. Following company protocol, Robinson reported the injury as occupational and was placed on medical leave starting January 14, 2023. During this period, he diligently kept Ford informed about his medical status and submitted all necessary documentation to the company’s medical department.
The situation took a turn when Robinson personally delivered updated medical restrictions to Nurse Shannon Lee Manor at Ford’s medical department on April 19, 2023. Contrary to standard procedure, Nurse Manor failed to log and process these documents into Ford’s system. As a result of this oversight, Robinson was terminated from his position on May 4, 2023.
Robinson did not learn the reason for his termination until three weeks later when his union representative advised him to contact Human Resources. He was informed that he had been let go for allegedly failing to update Ford about his medical condition—a claim he disputes since he had submitted the required paperwork in person.
After realizing the error in processing his documentation, Robinson contacted Ford’s Health and Safety Department and resubmitted his paperwork. A representative confirmed that all documents were in order; however, by then, the damage had been done.
Robinson was reinstated on November 14, 2023. Yet upon returning to work, he discovered that Nurse Manor had improperly reclassified his injury from occupational to personal—an action that left him without work within the company due to misclassification.
This reclassification led to another termination on March 4, 2024, as no suitable work was available for him under the new classification status. Throughout this ordeal, Robinson claims significant losses including wages and benefits along with emotional distress caused by what he perceives as unjust treatment by Ford Motor Company.
In response to these events, Robinson is seeking relief through several legal avenues: reinstatement at Ford Motor Company; compensation for lost wages (back pay) and future earnings (front pay); compensatory damages for emotional distress; punitive damages; court costs; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing himself pro se in this matter is Antonio T. Robinson Sr., while Judges Susan K. DeClereq and Kimberly G. Altman have been assigned to oversee proceedings under Case ID: 2:26-cv-10267-SKD-KGA.
Source: 226cv10267_Antonio_Robinson_v_Ford_Motor_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf