HUNTINGTON — A former employee is suing Mason County Commission alleging she was wrongfully terminated from her employment.
Hannah Taylor was an employee of the Mason County Emergency Medical Services for five years, and she suffered a work-related shoulder injury on Feb. 25, 2022, while moving a patient, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Taylor claims she then went on Workers’ Compensation leave and was later assigned to light-duty work after evaluation in July 2022.
Despite this, Taylor struggled with her duties due to the lingering effects of the on-the-job injury. On Aug. 2, 2022, her physician deemed her unfit for light duty, resulting in her return to leave.
Just eight days later, on Aug. 10, 2022, the defendant terminated Taylor's employment, citing reasons related to a Facebook post made on Aug. 2, 2022, and a corrective action dated Aug. 1, 2022, according to the suit.
Taylor claims the defendant lacked a social media policy, and she only received the corrective action notice after her termination.
Taylor claims her discharge was motivated by her disability-related leave and that her shoulder injury constituted a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
The plaintiff filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on April 28, which was later assigned to the West Virginia Human Rights Commission (WVHRC) by the EEOC.
On Sept. 19, Taylor withdrew her EEOC complaint and obtained a right-to-sue letter on Oct. 6.
Taylor claims the defendant wrongfully terminated her employment and discriminated against her.
Taylor is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is represented by Ryan W. Walters and Richard W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer in Charleston.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 3:23-cv-00697