A judge has ruled that a man who has AIDS can't collect damages after alleging his former employer violated his privacy by revealing his condition to his co-workers.

The lawsuit alleged a violation of state law, which prohibits the disclosure of confidential HIV-related information, except in specific circumstances, which aren't applicable in this case. The plaintiff, identified only as John Doe in court papers, claimed he suffered “extreme shame, embarrassment and humiliation” as a result of the disclosure, the decision notes.

The case hinged on whether the plaintiff had spoken to any of his co-workers about his health condition. In a decision dated Oct. 15, Superior Court Judge Sheila Huddleston indicated she found to be credible witnesses who said that Doe had told his coworkers about the disease.