CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County woman is suing the hospital where she worked, claiming she was fired over false allegations of prescription drug addiction.
Jennifer Loyd filed a lawsuit March 1 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital Association, doing business as Thomas Memorial Hospital, and Thomas Health System Inc., alleging disability discrimination and infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint, when Loyd began working for the defendants in September of 2013, they were made aware that she was receiving treatment for depression. After returning from time off for a back injury in February of 2014, the suit says, Thomas Memorial accused her of impairment due to drug abuse.
However, Loyd says she was suffering from lack of sleep caused by marital stress and the death of her grandmother. Despite testing negative for drug use, hospital officials met with Loyd on March 27, 2014, accusing her of being addicted to prescription medication and terminating her employment, the claim states.
Loyd seeks a jury trial, damages to be determined at trial, plus interest and litigation costs. She is represented by attorney Brian D. Yost of Holroyd & Yost of Charleston.
Judge Charles E. King is assigned to the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-C-310