Pregnant manager sues hotel, claims discrimination

A hotel manager brought a lawsuit against her company for alleged infringement of civil rights in a 2014 employment dispute.

Jessiica Howell filed March 10 in Houston Federal Court against Hotel Management and Consulting Inc., doing business as Value Place, headquartered in Kansas but doing business in Texas; Four VP Houston LP, doing business as Value Place Willowbrook of Houston; and SAVPA LLC, doing business as Value Place of San Antonio, claiming labor law violation.

Howell worked as the Willowbrook general manager for the defendant from Dec. 30, 2013, until her termination on Feb. 18, 2014. The suit states that all named defendants operate under shared management.

The complaint states that shortly after informing her district manager that she was pregnant, the plaintiff was treated unfairly. For example, Howell claims that she was made to take on physical work not included in her original job description that exceeded demands made on other employees of her rank.

Howell alleges that she was fired on Feb. 18, 2014, for contrived reasons that breach employment law. Citing violation of the Civil Rights Act as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act; and claiming physical and mental pain and distress, the plaintiff seeks: compensatory and punitive damages for lost wages, benefits and career opportunities; attorney’s fees; expenses; and costs.

She is represented by Charles Peckham and Mary Martin, of Peckham PLLC in Houston.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 4:14-cv-00636