HUNTINGTON – A woman is suing St. Mary’s Medical Center after she claims her employment was wrongfully terminated.
Selma White was employed by St. Mary’s as a housekeeper for 14 years and also worked part-time for Penn Station as a cashier for four years, according to a complaint filed July 25 in Cabell Circuit Court.
White claims on Jan. 5, she was placed on Family and Medical Leave At while she was recovering from a hysterectomy from both St. Mary’s and Penn Station and, prior to returning to work at the hospital, she was released by her physician to return to work under light duty designation.
The plaintiff returned to work part-time at Penn Station under light duty restrictions, however, she was not able to return to work at St. Mary’s because the hospital refused to provide light duty accommodations, according to the suit.
White claims after learning the plaintiff returned to work at Penn Station, St. Mary’s terminated his employment.
The plaintiff was still under FMLA leave at the time of her termination from St. Mary’s and the defendant terminated White’s employment because she took qualifying leave under FMLA, according to the suit.
White claims the defendant violated FMLA and wrongfully terminated her employment.
The defendant’s actions also violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act, according to the suit.
White is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Richard W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 17-C-426