Nursing home employee alleges wrongful discharge

WHEELING — An Ohio County woman has sued a nursing home and its human resources department head, alleging wrongful termination.

Catherine A. “Cathy” Jacovetty of Wheeling filed a lawsuit March 19 in Ohio Circuit Court against Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Welty Home for the Aged Inc. and Randy Forzano.

According to the complaint, Cathy Jacovetty was hired by the defendant in March 2012, after which her s husband developed renal failure and required weekly dialysis, the suit states.

The suit says Good Shepherd anticipated difficulties with her employment due to her husband’s condition and the defendant sought reasons to terminate Jacovetty. According to the lawsuit, Cathy was fired March 4, 2014, after a minor incident involving a patient was blown out of proportion.

The suit cites the defendants' attempt to legitimize wrongful termination and alleges counts: of gender and perceived disability discrimination; retaliatory discharge; defamation, libel and/or slander by the company and defendant Forzano; and intentionally malicious negligence in supporting slander by one of its employees.

The plaintiff cites humiliation, distress, loss of dignity and harm to her reputation.

Jacovetty seeks punitive damages, plus attorney fees and costs.

She is represented by attorney Nicholas Wininsky of Wininsky Law Offices in Pittsburgh. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Martin J. Gaughan.

Ohio Circuit Court case number: 15-C-86-MJG