Lawsuit accuses CenterPoint Energy of discriminating against blind employee

HOUSTON - A Brazoria County woman pursued legal action against CenterPoint Energy Inc. for discriminating against her because she is legally blind.

Recent court documents filed Oct. 18 in Houston federal court explain that Heather E. Davis's disability was not properly accommodated.

CenterPoint currently employs Davis, who was hired in April 2009.

She says her condition is the result of a "long-undiagnosed" medical problem.

Said condition prompted the plaintiff to go on leave from late 2011 to at least early 2012.

The lawsuit shows that CenterPoint delayed Davis's scheduled return to work, and when she came back in the middle of last year, it purportedly took steps to reduce her job responsibilities and schedule, even restricting the presence and movement of her service canine.

Instead of electronically transmitting information to the claimant, the original petition says, CenterPoint required her to "somehow find the printed information buried in binders stored in a locked office."

Davis further asserts the defendant also prevented her from securing another job within the company as well as refused to let her attend training events.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Andrew S. Golub of Dow Golub Remels & Beverly LLP in Houston is representing the complainant.

Case No. 4:13-CV-3080