UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA 

----------------------------------------------------------------

TRACEY GRAHAM, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

BARRIER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC and MARC 

GLICKMAN, DMD, in his individual and 

professional capacities, 

 Defendants. 

X 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

 : 

Civil Action No.: 

COMPLAINT 

Jury Trial Demanded

---------------------------------------------------------------- X 

Plaintiff, Tracey Graham, upon personal knowledge or, where necessary, information and 

belief, hereby alleges and avers as follows: 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 

1. This is a case of a company and its owner holding themselves out to the public as 

conscientious manufacturers of personal protection equipment (“PPE”) for medical professionals 

battling COVID-19, while hypocritically and unlawfully denying their own employees, who may 

have contracted COVID-19, legal protection through paid sick leave so they can get better and 

stay employed. 

2. Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) to 

protect employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

3. Among the several protections enacted, the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act 

(“EPSLA”) of the FFCRA requires employers to provide up to two weeks of paid sick leave and 

job protection for employees who, inter alia, are (a) subject to a governmental quarantine or 

isolation order related to COVID-19 or (b) advised by a health care provider to quarantine or 

self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 1 of 11
2

4. Barrier Technologies, LLC (“Barrier” or the “Company”), a company that 

manufacturers radiation PPE that it claims on its website is “COVID-19 Compliant,” and the 

Company’s owner and Managing Director, Marc Glickman, DMD (“Dr. Glickman”) (together, 

“Defendants”), blatantly disregarded their obligations under the FFCRA and EPSLA by 

unlawfully terminating Ms. Graham after she developed viral symptoms and self-isolated as she 

was advised to do by her health care provider because of COVID-19 concerns. 

5. Specifically, Ms. Graham, an embroiderer who Dr. Glickman aggressively 

pursued to work at the Company, left work early on April 10, 2020 after she started experiencing 

viral symptoms. 

6. Ms. Graham immediately sought medical treatment and was advised by a health 

care provider to self-isolate until her symptoms subsided for at least seven days. 

7. On April 16, 2020, six days later, Defendants terminated Ms. Graham’s 

employment before she could return to work, citing economic conditions related to the COVID19 pandemic. 

8. Adding insult to injury, Defendants not only unlawfully terminated Ms. Graham 

because she took protected sick leave, they also refused to pay her for any of that sick leave 

notwithstanding a clear legal obligation to do so. 

9. Ms. Graham brings this action under the FFCRA/EPSLA to recover: (a) unpaid 

sick leave wages; (b) wages lost as a result of her unlawful termination; (c) compensatory 

damages for the emotional distress suffered as a result of losing her employment; and (d) 

liquidated and/or punitive damages to the fullest extent of the law. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 2 of 11
3

PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS 

10. Simultaneously with the filing of this Complaint, Plaintiff will file a Charge of 

Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) and the Florida 

Commission on Human Relations (“FCHR”) alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights 

Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. (“Title VII”) and the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, 

Fla. Stat. Ch. 760, § 760.01 et seq. (“FCRA”). 

11. Upon issuance of a Notice of Right to Sue from the EEOC, Plaintiff shall seek 

leave to amend this Complaint to include claims under Title VII and the FCRA. 

12. Pursuant to FCRA § 760.11(8), Plaintiff will seek leave to amend this Complaint 

to include claims under the FCRA after 180 days have passed without there being a 

determination by the FCHR on whether reasonable cause exists. 

13. Thus, Plaintiff has complied or will comply with any and all other prerequisites to 

filing this action. 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE 

14. The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, as this 

action involves federal questions regarding the deprivation of Plaintiff’s rights under the FFCRA 

and EPSLA, which are enforced through sections 15(a)(3), 16 and 17 of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. §§ 

216-217. See 29 C.F.R. § 826.150. 

15. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) because a 

substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to this action, including the unlawful 

practices complained of herein, occurred in this district. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 3 of 11
4

PARTIES 

16. Plaintiff, Tracey Graham, is a former employee at Barrier. Ms. Graham is a 

resident of the State of Florida and, at all relevant times herein, met the definition of an 

“employee” and/or “covered employee” under all relevant statutes, and performed work and 

services for the Company. 

17. Defendant, Barrier Technologies, LLC, is a Florida limited liability corporation 

registered at 7060 W. State Road 84, Suite 8, Davie, FL 33317. At all times relevant herein, 

Barrier was an “employer” and/or “covered employer” under all relevant statutes. 

18. Defendant, Marc Glickman, DMD, is the President and CEO of Barrier who hired 

Plaintiff, set her rate of pay and supervised Plaintiff during her employment at Barrier. At all 

relevant times, Dr. Glickman met the definitions of “employer” and/or “covered employer” 

under all applicable statutes. 

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 

I. BACKGROUND 

19. Ms. Graham grew up using embroidery machines as a hobby, and for the last six 

years has worked as a full-time embroider. 

20. Towards the end of 2019, Ms. Graham decided she wanted to move from 

Washington State to Florida to work until she retired. 

21. In November 2019, Ms. Graham applied for embroidery positions at Barrier and 

Embroidery World. 

22. Ms. Graham did not receive a response to her application to Barrier, but she did 

interview and accept a position at Embroidery World. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 4 of 11
5

23. In December 2019, Ms. Graham moved to Florida and started working at 

Embroidery World. 

II. BARRIER AGGRESSIVELY RECRUITS MS. GRAHAM 

24. On February 11, 2020, Dr. Glickman contacted Ms. Graham about the 

employment application she had previously submitted to Barrier. 

25. During the call, Dr. Glickman asked Ms. Graham about her current position, and 

told her that he would be happy to offer her more money than she was earning at Embroidery 

World and that he would also provide her medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits after 

being employed by Barrier for 60 days. 

26. Dr. Glickman also invited Ms. Graham to come meet him and tour the office. 

27. After the call, Dr. Glickman emailed Ms. Graham telling her that she would be a 

“great addition” to the team and asked when she would be available to visit Barrier. 

28. A few days later, Dr. Glickman called Ms. Graham again to ask her if she had 

thought about his offer and told her that he really wanted to meet her in person and show her 

around the office. 

29. Dr. Glickman told Ms. Graham that it would not be a traditional interview 

because he knew that he wanted her to work at the Company. 

30. On February 16, 2020, Ms. Graham visited Barrier during her lunch break. Dr. 

Glickman showed Ms. Graham around the office and introduced her to some of the employees. 

During the tour, Ms. Graham noticed a problem with one of the embroidery machines and 

quickly fixed the problem. 

31. Afterward, Dr. Glickman brought Ms. Graham to a conference room and gave her 

W-4 and I-9 forms and a check for $30.00. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 5 of 11
6

32. Dr. Glickman told Ms. Graham that the check was for fixing the machine even 

though it only took her only a few minutes to do so. 

33. Dr. Glickman also continued to persuade Ms. Graham to join the Company by 

telling her that she would have design rights to change embroidery patterns and that her opinions 

would be respected at Barrier. 

34. Persuaded by Dr. Glickman’s entreaties, Ms. Graham accepted the position and 

told him she would give notice at her current job. 

35. On February 24, 2020, Ms. Graham started working at Barrier and soon proved to 

be nothing but a model employee. 

36. Ms. Graham made sure to stay busy throughout the workday, including finding 

additional work to help with when she completed her work on the embroidery machines. 

37. Ms. Graham also was very efficient with her embroidery work, and in one day she 

was able to complete 47 items on the Company’s two embroidery machines. 

38. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Graham remained very busy and 

continued to work since she had been classified as an essential employee. 

39. Unlike many other companies that have had to lay-off employees during the 

pandemic, Barrier hired three new employees and Ms. Graham’s workload increased during the 

time she was employed there. 

III. MS. GRAHAM IS ADVISED TO SELF-ISOLATE BECAUSE OF VIRAL 

SYMPTOMS 

40. On April 10, 2020, Ms. Graham left work early because she felt nauseated and 

had a sore throat and a stuffy nose. 

41. Accordingly, Ms. Graham told Wendy Giltz, Director of Customer Service, that 

she was not feeling well and needed to leave work early. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 6 of 11
7

42. On her way out, Ms. Graham stopped by Dr. Glickman’s office to let him know 

that she was going home sick. 

43. Later that day, Ms. Graham had a video appointment with Juan Gomez, M.D., 

who told her that he did not know whether she had COVID-19 without testing, which Ms. 

Graham could not travel to obtain because she did not have a car. 

44. Dr. Gomez diagnosed Ms. Graham with a viral condition and ordered her to selfisolate until at least seven days had passed from the time her symptoms first appeared. 

45. Ms. Graham forwarded the self-isolation letter to Barrier’s general email address 

and received an acknowledgement from Barrier’s Vice President of Sales, Michael Mazzurco. 

46. Upon information and belief, Dr. Glickman believed that Ms. Graham had 

contracted COVID-19, which potentially impacts certain major life activities on a temporary or 

permanent basis, and thus perceived her as disabled because of the virus. 

47. Moreover, Defendants refused to engage in an interactive process to determine 

whether Ms. Graham needed a reasonable accommodation. 

IV. MS. GRAHAM IS UNLAWFULLY TERMINATED 

48. Less than a week later, on April 16, 2020, Ms. Giltz sent a text message to Ms. 

Graham informing her that her position was being “eliminated.” 

49. Ms. Graham also learned that she would be paid through her last day of actual 

work but would not receive any compensation for the period of time she was out sick. 

50. Unfortunately, Ms. Graham is not the only employee who has been terminated 

based on the Defendants’ belief that the employee has Coronavirus. 

51. Specifically, shortly before Ms. Graham left because she was not feeling well, she 

overheard Dr. Glickman tell Ms. Glitz that “this whole COVID thing would have blown up in 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 7 of 11
8

our face if [the Company] continued with Christina” – suggesting that Defendants had 

terminated Christina (last name unknown) for reasons similar to those regarding Ms. Graham. 

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 

(Unpaid Sick Leave in violation of FFCRA/EPSLA) 

Against All Defendants 

52. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation in the preceding factual 

allegations section, as though fully set forth herein. 

53. Plaintiff was entitled to up to two weeks (or 80 hours) of paid sick leave pursuant 

to the EPSLA because she was advised by a health care provider to self-isolate due to concerns 

related to COVID-19. 

54. Defendants failed to pay Plaintiff for any sick leave while she was advised by a 

health care provider to self-isolate and did not report to work. 

55. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ unlawful conduct, Plaintiff 

suffered lost wages. 

56. Upon information and belief, the violations of law complained of herein were 

willful; accordingly, Plaintiff also seeks liquidated and/or punitive damages, to the fullest extent 

available under the law, as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees. 

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 

(Retaliation or Interference in Violation of FFCRA/EPSLA) 

Against All Defendants 

57. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation in the preceding factual 

allegations section, as though fully set forth herein. 

58. The EPSLA prohibits employers from discharging any employee because the 

employee took qualifying paid sick leave and requires an employer to restore an employee to the 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 8 of 11
9

same or equivalent position after taking qualifying sick leave. 29 C.F.R. §§ 826.130(a), 

826.150(a). 

59. Defendants terminated Plaintiff while she was advised by a health care provider to 

self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19. 

60. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ unlawful conduct, Plaintiff 

suffered lost wages and significant emotional distress because of her termination. 

61. Plaintiff also seeks liquidated and/or punitive damages, to the fullest extent of the 

law, as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees. 

PRAYER FOR RELIEF 

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays that the Court enter judgment in her favor and against 

Defendants, containing the following relief: 

A. A declaratory judgment that the actions, conduct and practices of Defendants 

complained of herein violate the laws of the United States; 

B. An injunction and order permanently restraining Defendants and their partners, 

officers, owners, agents, successors, employees and/or representatives, and any and all persons 

acting in concert with it, from engaging in any such further unlawful conduct, including the 

policies and practices complained of herein; 

C. An award of damages against Defendants, or any jointly or severally liable entity 

or person, in an amount to be determined at trial, plus prejudgment interest, to compensate 

Plaintiff for all monetary and/or economic damages, including, but not limited to, loss of past 

and future income, wages, including overtime wages, compensation, seniority, and other benefits 

of employment; 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 9 of 11
10

D. An award of damages against Defendants, or any jointly or severally liable entity 

or person, in an amount to be determined at trial, plus prejudgment interest, to compensate 

Plaintiff for all non-monetary and/or compensatory damages, including, but not limited to, 

compensation for her emotional distress; 

E. An award of damages for any and all other monetary and/or non-monetary losses 

suffered by Plaintiff, including, but not limited to, loss of income, earned bonus pay, reputational 

harm and harm to professional reputation, in an amount to be determined at trial, plus 

prejudgment interest; 

F. An award of punitive damages, and any applicable penalties and/or liquidated 

damages in an amount to be determined at trial; 

G. Prejudgment interest on all amounts due; 

H. An award of Plaintiff’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; and, 

I. Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 10 of 11
11

JURY DEMAND 

Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues of fact and damages stated herein. 

Dated: June 2, 2020 

New York, New York Respectfully submitted, 

WIGDOR LLP 

By: 

Bryan L. Arbeit 

(Bar No. 1010329) 

Parisis G. Filippatos 

(pro hac vice admission forthcoming) 

85 Fifth Avenue 

New York, NY 10003 

Telephone: (212) 257-6800 

Facsimile: (212) 257-6845 

barbeit@wigdorlaw.com 

pfilippatos@wigdorlaw.com

Counsel for Plaintiff 

Case 0:20-cv-61080-AHS Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/02/2020 Page 11 of 11