A former employee has taken legal action against a prominent Virginia-based laboratory products distributor, alleging discrimination and retaliation linked to his disability. On November 25, 2025, Christopher Sabatini filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Government Scientific Source, Inc. (GSS), accusing the company of violating both federal and state laws designed to protect individuals with disabilities.
Christopher Sabatini’s lawsuit claims that GSS discriminated against him due to his disabilities—post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety—and retaliated after he requested reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA). According to court documents, Sabatini was employed by GSS from January 1, 2017, until October 20, 2023. Despite maintaining satisfactory performance throughout his tenure and even being considered for a promotion shortly before his termination, Sabatini alleges that issues began in August 2022 when he was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) without just cause.
Sabatini asserts that on October 19, 2023, he disclosed his disabilities to GSS’s Human Resources Manager via email and sought ADA accommodations as advised by his physician. The following day, GSS terminated his employment without addressing his accommodation request or engaging in an interactive process to determine suitable workplace adjustments. This swift termination is cited as evidence of retaliatory intent by GSS. In July 2024, Sabatini filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which granted him the right to sue on November 26, 2025.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress alongside punitive damages for alleged malicious conduct by GSS. Sabatini also requests attorney’s fees and other related costs incurred during this legal battle. The case highlights significant allegations against GSS regarding its handling of disability accommodations and its compliance with anti-discrimination laws.
Representing Christopher Sabatini are attorneys Joshua Erlich and Heather Murray from The Erlich Law Office based in Arlington, Virginia. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-02171.
Source: 125cv02171_Sabatini_v_Government_Scientific_Source_Inc_Complaint_Eastern_District_Virginia.pdf
