HUNTINGTON — A woman is suing Wexford Health Sources alleging she was terminated from her employment wrongfully.
Heidi Beegle filed the lawsuit against Wexford Health Sources after she was fired after having requested Family and Medical Leave Act leave, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Beegle claims she was a registered nurse for the defendant and began working at Lakin Correctional Center on July 13, 2015, and was promoted on Aug. 17, 2015, to its health services administrator, which is the position she remained in until her termination on May 14, 2020.
On March 3, 2020, Beegle requested leave to care for her cancer-stricken father under FMLA and she was granted FMLA. Beegle's father died on May 3, 2020, and she took bereavement leave for one week after his death.
Beegle claims upon returning to work after her bereavement leave, she was fired from her employment.
"By firing Beegle upon her return from leave, Wexford interfered with Beegle's exercise or attempt to exercise her rights under FMLA..." the complaint states.
Beegle claims the defendant retaliated against her for requesting FMLA leave to care for her father when he was dying.
Beegle is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with reinstatement to her job. She is represented by Richard W. Walters and Ryan W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer in Charleston.
In its answer, Wexford denied the allegations laid out in Beegle's complaint.
Wexford argued that the statute of limitations has already expired and that Beegle failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
"Any personnel actions taken by Defendant with respect to Plaintiff were based solely on legitimate, non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory business reasons," the answer states.
Wexford is represented by Kelly G. Pawlowski and Johnnie E. Brown of Pullin Fowler Flanagan Brown & Poe in Charleston.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 3:22-cv-00084