The 20-year veteran was fired six days after returning from medical leave, lawsuit alleges
A promotion vanished weeks after a longtime employee disclosed paternity leave plans. Now he claims Zurich Insurance turned his dream job into a termination.
Peter Noteman spent over two decades climbing the ranks at Zurich American Insurance Company. By early 2023, the Pennsylvania-based underwriter had earned strong performance reviews and seemed poised for his biggest career move yet.
That May, a senior executive encouraged him to apply for Global Head of Liability, a role overseeing the company's liability portfolios across North America. The position would require relocating to Switzerland and report directly to the Global Head of Casualty, who told Noteman he was her top choice as successor.
After interviews in June, Noteman received the offer on July 21, 2023. During that same call, he shared news that his wife was expecting and he planned to take paternity leave. He proposed a relocation timeline that would allow him to settle in Switzerland, return for the birth, take his leave, and complete the move by March.
His new boss seemed receptive. The relocation plan appeared settled by mid-August, and Noteman formally accepted the position on August 14.
Four days later, the offer was pulled.
According to a complaint filed November 3, 2025, in federal court in Philadelphia, Zurich reversed course after Noteman's immediate supervisor reported his performance had deteriorated over the prior two weeks. When the executive who recruited him delivered the news, she acknowledged the performance concerns seemed out of character. Noteman pointed out that those same two weeks coincided with his disclosure about paternity leave and taking time off for prenatal appointments.
The filing alleges his supervisor's treatment had shifted noticeably after learning of his leave plans. Work piled up with tighter deadlines. Criticism increased. When he took time for doctor visits with his wife, he says he was pressured to work anyway.
After losing the promotion, Noteman's mental health deteriorated. He was diagnosed with major depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety in late August 2023. He filed internal complaints alleging discrimination, which HR later said revealed no policy violations. When he raised concerns directly with his supervisor, HR allegedly called his communications inappropriate.
Noteman went on medical leave in mid-September and spent nearly a month at a treatment facility in Arizona. While he was out, Zurich created a new Head of Motor position and reassigned some of his responsibilities.
Six days after he returned from leave in November, Noteman was fired. The reason given was poor performance. During the termination meeting, he was offered approximately $500,000 in severance in exchange for releasing all claims. He declined.
The allegations raise questions about timing. Zurich had no policy requiring severance for performance-based terminations, yet offered a substantial package. The performance concerns surfaced only after Noteman disclosed leave plans, despite his track record and recent ratings. And the termination came less than a week after his return from federally protected medical leave.
Noteman is seeking damages under federal disability, sex discrimination, and family leave laws, plus state protections. The allegations have not been tested in court, and Zurich has not yet responded.
