New Jersey Public Works Employee Claims Disability Bias After Job Ends Following Leg Amputation
A former public works employee in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Branchburg Township, alleging that he lost his job because of a disability after returning from medical leave following a motorcycle crash that resulted in the amputation of his left leg.
According to the complaint filed in New Jersey Superior Court on June 17, Alex Dzyak, 32, of Woodbridge, says the township unlawfully ended his employment instead of allowing him to return to work with reasonable accommodations. The lawsuit claims the township’s actions violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Court documents state that Dzyak joined Branchburg Township’s public works department in August 2023. During his employment, he reportedly performed well and exceeded expectations in his role.
In May 2025, roughly nine months after starting the job, Dzyak experienced medical issues that required him to take an extended leave from work. Before he was expected to return, he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on July 13, 2025. The crash led to the amputation of his left leg.
Following the accident, Dzyak requested additional medical leave to recover. The lawsuit says Branchburg Township approved that request.
The legal complaint states that in February 2026, Dzyak asked the township to extend his medical leave once again. According to the lawsuit, township officials denied the request.
Dzyak eventually returned to work in March 2026. However, before he could resume his regular duties, the township required him to complete a functional capacity examination to determine whether he could safely perform the job.
According to the lawsuit, the examination concluded that Dzyak was capable of performing work in the medium-heavy category with only minimal restrictions or limitations.
Despite those findings, the complaint alleges that on March 19, 2026, Branchburg Township refused to allow Dzyak to return to work. The lawsuit claims township officials cited his medical disability and the need for reasonable workplace accommodations as reasons for not reinstating him.
The complaint further alleges that the township’s decision effectively ended Dzyak’s employment.
Dzyak argues that the township’s actions violated protections provided under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. The lawsuit claims he suffered financial hardship, emotional distress, anxiety, stress, and uncertainty about his future employment because of the termination.
Branchburg Township Administrator Gregory J. Bonin said the township had no comment regarding the pending lawsuit.
The attorney representing Dzyak, Steven D. Cahn of Edison, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The allegations made in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. At this stage, the case presents the claims made by the former employee, and the legal process will determine how the dispute is resolved.
Sources
- New Jersey Superior Court
- Branchburg Township, New Jersey