Woman says she was fired for being pregnant

CHARLESTON -- A former Heritage Equipment employee is suing after she claims the company fired her because she was pregnant.

Cassie D. Canterbury was employed by the defendant as a marketing manager when she informed the defendant on July 8, 2010, that she was pregnant, according to a complaint filed Oct. 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Canterbury claims she was informed by the chief operating officer that the president of the defendant wanted her to know that "virtually every woman he has hired over the past 10 years has come up pregnant."

On Aug. 6, 2010, Canterbury's employment was terminated, less than one month after she informed Heritage Equipment of her pregnancy, according to the suit.

Canterbury claims she fired because she was pregnant.

The defendant's actions violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act because Canterbury was discriminated against because of her gender and being pregnant, according to the suit.

Canterbury is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre-judgment interest. She is being represented by Mark A. Atkinson and Paul L. Frampton Jr.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1872