Woman claims age discrimination at Teletech

MOUNDSVILLE - A Moundsville woman fired after suffering a heart attack is suing her former employer over age and disability discrimination.

Juanita Guzek worked at Teletech Customer Care Management until her termination in April 2004, which followed what she calls a "workplace heart attack."

Guzek and husband Benjamin filed the suit April 6 in Marshall Circuit Court and also list Teletech Financial Services Management, Teletech Facilities Management, Teletech Government Solutions, Teletech Loan Services and Teletech Services Corporation as defendants.

The lawsuit was filed through attorney Nicholas Wininsky of Wheeling law firm Wininsky Law Offices.

Guzek says she began working for Teletech in May 1998 as a telephone sales representative, eventually transferring to the payroll office in 2000. She was promoted to timekeeping specialist in May 2001.

In Dec. 2003, she says she suffered a workplace heart attack and went on sick leave. She also filed a workers' compensation claim.

Afterwards, she was fired April 9, 2004.

The then-53-year-old says her discharge was motivated by her age. She also says it was retaliatory for her workers' compensation claim and because of her disability.

Her husband Benjamin filed a loss of consortium claim.

They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Marshall Circuit Court case number 06-C-89