A Charlottetown man has laid a complaint with the P.E.I. Human Rights Commission, saying he was fired from his job with an insurance broker because of his addiction to alcohol.

'He never received one cent from Burgoyne Insurance.'— Allan Burgoyne

But the company he has laid a complaint against says he was never an employee.

In his statement to the Human Rights Commission, Daniel Mullin said in October 2007 he agreed to sell investment packages for Burgoyne Insurance. A few months later, Mullin entered a rehabilitation program for his alcohol addiction. He said a week later he was fired.

Mullin would not do an interview with CBC News.

Maria McQuaid, a lawyer with the Human Rights Commission, said alcoholism is considered a disability. "If an employee does have an alcohol addiction, the duty to accommodate on the part of the employer would be to give time off so that the person could participate in rehabilitation programs," said McQuaid.

Allan Burgoyne, president of Burgoyne Insurance, is arguing Mullin was let go because he couldn't do the job, not because of his alcohol problem. He also said Mullin was never working for him. He said he and Mullin were brokers working for the big insurance companies.

"He never received one cent from Burgoyne Insurance or Allan Burgoyne or anybody associated with me ... Not a cent," said Burgoyne.

Burgoyne said he shared his client list with Mullin, and the two agreed that Burgoyne would take part of Mullin's commissions, but Burgoyne said none of that made him Mullins' employer.

That leaves Daniel Mullin having to prove two things: that he was discriminated against on the basis of disability, and that he was employed by Burgoyne Insurance.

The case is scheduled to be heard over three days in March.