A Shelocta man filed a federal lawsuit against UPMC claiming that he was fired from his job because he was about to deploy with his National Guard unit.

Shane Stadtmiller, 34, worked as a project manager for UPMC Health Plan Inc. from November 2007 to May 2008.

He had previously served in the Army Reserves and was injured in Iraq in April 2005 while deployed.

According to Mr. Stadtmiller, who was the company commander for a West Virginia National Guard unit while working at UPMC, he had to use personal time for monthly Guard duty, said attorney Timothy P. O'Brien.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this week, claims violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act.

Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for UPMC Health Plan, said he could not comment on specifics of the lawsuit, but UPMC had always shown a strong commitment to members of the military. In 2002, he said, UPMC implemented an enhanced military leave policy that allows employees to go on military leave without using personal time, which contradicts Mr. Stadtmiller's claim.