A 61-year old man from Michigan claimed that he got fired from his salesman job because he had a big waistline which is synonymous to being overweight.

According to reports, Patrick Ronayne was let go from his job which pays $75,000 a year. The dismissed employee alleged that his replacement was a thinner person, thereby fueling his claim that his weight was the main reason.

However, the employer – Winston Golf and Winston Manufacturing – stressed that it was Ronayne’s poor performance that led to his dismissal but the complainant would not believe it.

Ronayne filed a lawsuit seeking more than $25,000 in damages. He stated in his complaint that there was age and weight discrimination that led to his dismissal. He also alleged that the employer said that actual phrase “he was not a ‘flat belly’”.

Company spokesman Garrett Morelock dismissed the complaint, saying that it was “absurd.” However, they will be prepared to state their case once this matter goes to court.