A Jewish chemist, employed for 23 years by the U.S. Navy, has been fired by his supervisor, who was alleged to be motivated by “bias, malice and prejudice,” according to a suit filed in the United States Court of Claims here today.
The 36-year-old supervisor, Dr. Martin Zimmer, is a citizen of West Germany, now employed by the U.S. Government. Educated in Nazi schools, he came to the United States in January 1962. Dr. Zimmer is the son of an army officer who served in Hitler’s Army, according to the complaint. The plaintiff is Bernard Perlstein, of Washington.
The suit asserted that the German supervisor displayed “a marked antagonism” toward Mr. Perlstein and that, in less than a year, brought departmental charges against the chemist, alleging inefficiency.
Claude L. Dawson, the attorney representing the chemist, who was an upper grade Civil Service employe, said his client has an excellent record and had no trouble with any superiors until the German arrived and became his supervisor. The suit maintained that the plaintiff should be reinstated and reimbursed with back pay for unwarranted dismissal.
During the Navy hearing on the dismissal action, two chemists with outstanding reputations in their field testified on behalf of Mr. Perlstein, praising his competence and ability. The Navy Board nevertheless sustained his dismissal. So did the Civil Service Commission’s Board of Appeals and Review. Mr. Dawson said “this case makes a mockery of the Government’s anti-discrimination program which is supposed to end all prejudice and discrimination in the Federal service.”
The Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. made known that it is requesting a report from the Navy on whether the German supervisor participated in the Hitler Youth Movement and on his general background. JWV national commander Ralph Plofsky said the public was entitled to know all facts bearing on this case. An investigation was meanwhile launched by the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
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