A Union Pacific locomotive
ST. LOUIS — A Union Pacific Railroad carman has sued the company, alleging it denied his requests for time to attend prescribed weekly group therapy and disciplined him for absences related to the sessions.
The complaint, filed Oct. 20 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, brings claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Missouri Human Rights Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Joel Renfro, who says he has worked at Union Pacific’s DeSoto, Missouri, facility since 2012, alleges the railroad failed to accommodate his disability-related treatment and retaliated against or interfered with his use of protected leave.
The allegations are claims in a complaint and have not been established in court. Renfro requests damages and other relief, including reinstatement and removal of discipline.
According to the complaint, Renfro served in the military from 2008 to 2012 and later received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions.
His psychologist prescribed weekly group therapy with other veterans.
The complaint says the one-hour session took place during his scheduled workday and that no comparable session was available outside work hours.
Renfro alleges that a manager initially approved time during his shift and a private room at the railroad’s property for the sessions.
He attended from Jan. 17 through May 9, 2024, the complaint says.
By mid-June, his symptoms were affecting his ability to work, and his physician placed him on medical leave beginning June 24.
He remained off work until Oct. 1, according to the filing.
Before his planned return, Renfro says he asked manager Tirenna Mann for one hour of unpaid leave each week to attend therapy.
The complaint says he began attending sessions on Sept. 18 and emailed Mann the following day to ask whether his accommodation request had been granted.
On Sept. 23, he alleges, Mann told him the request was denied and that he would need to use paid time off; absences beyond that would count against his attendance.
The complaint further alleges that Union Pacific did not return Renfro to work on Oct. 1, instead requesting a note from his pulmonologist about sleep apnea.
Renfro says he was required to use all of his Family and Medical Leave Act leave while waiting to return.
The filing says the company allowed him back to work in early November without receiving the requested documentation.
On Nov. 8, Renfro submitted another accommodation request, this time seeking three hours away from work so he could travel home, attend therapy and return to the job site.
The complaint says Union Pacific denied the request and proposed that he move to night work.
Renfro alleges that the night shift would affect his sleep and treatment and could result in lost seniority.
The complaint says Renfro used paid time off and FMLA leave to cover as much therapy-related time as possible.
On Jan. 13, 2025, however, the railroad charged him with attendance violations for absences during 2024, according to the filing.
It held an internal disciplinary investigation on March 11 and assessed discipline on March 21, the complaint says.
Renfro alleges that additional attendance violations followed for absences not covered by his available leave.
The filing says Renfro has continued attending therapy as prescribed and has taken a leave of absence to protect himself from being fired over attendance.
He claims lost wages and benefits, emotional distress and other harm.
His lawsuit asks the court for compensation, attorneys’ fees and equitable relief, including reinstatement and removal of related discipline. He has demanded a jury trial. He is represented by Ryan M. Furniss of The Furniss Law Firm in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division, case number: 4:26-cv-0180
