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Fired Casino Cancer Patient Sues
Message was posted: 05:49 Jul 18th, 2007

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Casino news source: Forbes - http://www.forbes.com/ Fired Casino Cancer Patient Sues By WAYNE PARRY 07.18.07, 5:24 PM ET ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A former supervisor at the Tropicana Casino and Resort who claims his lung cancer was caused by decades of exposure to second hand smoke is suing the casino, claiming they fired him for speaking out in favor of a smoking ban. Vince Rennich was fired from The Tropicana in March, when he was the most vocal supporter of a proposed smoking ban that the City Council was considering. Originally set to ban all smoking in the city's 11 casinos, the council later agreed to a compromise in which 75 percent of the gambling floor had to be smoke-free. It took effect April 15. "They tried to silence me," Rennich said. "It's not going to work. It was wrong, and I'm going to prove it. I'm still speaking out against smoking throughout the country." Rennich was fired a week after testifying before a state Senate committee about the dangers of second hand smoke. The lawsuit, filed Monday in state Superior Court, claims Rennich should have been protected under the state's Conscientious Employee Protection Act, commonly known as the "whistleblower" law. It prohibits workers from being fired for reporting illegal conduct or dangerous situations in the workplace. The Tropicana had no immediate comment on the lawsuit, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Rennich, 49, of Somers Point, has become for many the face of the casino anti-smoking movement, and has sought to publicize working conditions on the casino floors. He was already suing the Tropicana's parent corporation, claiming it failed to protect him and others from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Rennich says he has never smoked. He had a third of his right lung removed in September 2005 and must see a doctor every three months to make sure the cancer does not reappear. He blames the illness on the second hand smoke he was forced to breathe during 25 years as a table games supervisor. Rennich has not been able to find work since being fired, and must pay $1,300 a month for health insurance for himself and his family. That money is coming out of savings, and from a fundraiser that friends and co-workers held for him earlier this year. He said he does not want to return to work in the casino industry. And even if he did, he doubts anyone would hire him given his two lawsuits against the Tropicana.