CHARLESTON — A mediation is scheduled in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against Summit BHC West Virginia.
Summit BHC West Virginia is doing business as Highland Hospital.
The mediation was scheduled for March 21 at 9 a.m. at Miller & Amos Attorneys at Law in Charleston with Charlie Piccirillo of Shaffer & Shaffer serving as mediator.
Laurel Haught filed the lawsuit against Highland Hospital claiming that she had worked for various legal entities that did business as Highland Hospital for about seven years and worked as a registered nurse and a nursing supervisor, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Haught claims on April 23, 2021, he was informed her employer was terminated because they were downsizing and terminated staff who have had "past issues with performance and/or policy and procedures violations."
At the time of her termination, Highland Hospital had work available for RNs and was publicly advertising job openings for RNs, according to the suit.
"Prior to Plaintiff's termination, Plaintiff made reports to Highland Hospital's administration regarding patient safety, wrongdoing and waste, including but not limited to, concerns regarding Highland Hospital's inadequate staffing which increased the risk of harm to both staff and patients alike," the complaint states.
Haught claims she had also previously filed for workers' compensation benefits several times for various work injuries she had sustained.
At the time of her termination, Haught had a pending claim for an injury and was on light duty, according to the suit.
Haught claims she was 57 years old at the time of her employment and there were significantly younger and less experienced employees retaining their jobs while she was fired.
The plaintiff believes the defendant retaliated and discriminated against her, according to the suit.
Haught is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is represented by Karen Miller, Joseph Amos and Robert Hogue of Miller & Amos in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Tera Salango.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 22-C-933