Federal Judge Orders University of St. Thomas to Turn Over Documents in Discrimination Case

In an Order released this week, a federal judge in Houston ordered the University of St. Thomas (Houston), to turn over documents related to our client’s employment discrimination case.

Our law firm, specializing in employment law and wrongful termination cases, sued the University of St. Thomas for failing to renew our client’s teaching contract. Our client taught in the College of Nursing and had very good reviews. She complained about reverse race discrimination (she is white), and then one month later, the university says it made the decision to not renew her contract. Our client argues that the non-renewal is not a coincidence but is retaliation for complaining.

In a hearing held this week, a federal judge ordered the university to turn over many documents, including over a year’s worth of emails sent by Poldi Tschirch (Nursing School Dean), Angelina Chambers (who our client alleges discriminated against her) and Lucindra Campbell-Law. The judge also ordered the university to turn over all documents about the discrimination investigation that they conducted, as well as all documents about our client’s placement on a performance improvement plan.

No trial date has been set yet, but the judge has asked the parties to report back next month.

For further information, this Houston employment lawyer and Miami employment lawyer may be reached at 713.850.0066 or 305.538.6800, and at bruce.coane@gmail.com.

Miscarrying at Work: The Physical Toll of Pregnancy Discrimination

Here is a very interesting article about pregnancy discrimination. I have had cases just like this, but in order to make the case, it is absolutely critical to have a doctor’s letter tying the miscarriage to the treatment received at work. Many doctors may not be willing to say that, and so, even with the statistics described in the article, it is often difficult to make a case without the expert testimony of a physician.

For further information, this employment law attorney can be reached at bruce.coane@gmail.com or at 713.850.0066 or 305.538.6800

Palm Beach OBGYN clinic and doctors sued for alleged wage violations and discrimination

Palm Beach Obstetrics & Gynecology, P.A. and Dr. Samuel Lederman, Dr. Gloria Hakkarainen, Dr. Sylvia Siegfried, Dr. Joy Cavalaris, Dr. Lori Sevald and Dr. Marcela Lazo have been sued in U.S. District Court for overtime wages and for race and national origin discrimination by a former Billing Manager who worked for them for over ten years.

Our employment law firm, Coane and Associates, filed the lawsuit in the West Palm Beach Division of the U.S. District Court. The case alleges that our client has unpaid overtime of over $70,000 which the defendants have refused to pay. Additionally, our client claims that the office staff was mostly white, Hispanics who wanted her terminated, as one of the only black employees in the office.

Our client was terminated and then she alleges that Nelda Rodriguez, a Hispanic woman replaced her as Billing Manager. Our client seeks reinstatement, back pay and overtime pay in the lawsuit. A jury trial in 2019 is expected.

For further information, contact employment law attorney Bruce Coane at bruce.coane@gmail.com or 305.538.6800.

 

Red Tide and your job near The Beach

With red tide invading all parts of Florida, I have been getting inquiries from individuals who work on or near the beach.

My Miami Beach office, itself, is actually located just two blocks from the beach. The questions I have been fielding deal with the rights of workers when being exposed to dangerous red tide and avoiding wrongful termination. The red tide in Florida has been killing thousands of fish over the past weeks, and the question is how does it affect humans.

Published reports (and my own past experience being exposed in Galveston, Texas), indicate that it causes itchy and red eyes, as well as a feeling of tightness in the chest. Breathing issues have also been reported.

Some callers have told me they work at hotels or restaurants on the beach or near the beach, and they are already getting symptoms from the red tide and don’t want to go to work. In one case, the boss was threatening termination if the food server in Palm Beach County did not show up for work.

Here’s my advice. If you are a worker suffering symptoms of red tide, or afraid of getting symptoms, then get a note from your doctor ORDERING you to be off from work until the beaches reopen or the symptoms or risk subsides. There is no full-fledged way to guarantee saving your job, but if you have a diagnosis and a doctor’s note ORDERING time off from work, an employer will certainly think twice about firing you.

If a person gets fired when off due to a diagnosis and doctor’s orders, they may have a case under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Of course, there are limitations on legal rights and that is why it is important to know the law before asserting any possible legal rights.

The author, employment lawyer Bruce Coane practices wrongful termination and employment law throughout the United States and has offices in Florida and Texas. He may be reached at bruce.coane@gmail.com or at 713.850.0066 or at 305.538.6800.