SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

GALVESTON � A Santa Fe woman claims she was laid off last year because of an on-the-job injury.

Connie Delaney filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Aker Kvaerner Industrial Constructors Inc. alleging violations of state employment law.

According to the original petition filed July 10 in Galveston County District Court, Delaney was employed as a pipefitters' helper.

While working on Jan. 23, 2008, Delaney claims she hurt her wrist. She alleges her employer warned her that she would be terminated if she was involved in any other accidents.

In the suit, Delaney states that she was so afraid of losing her job that she treated the injured wrist herself.

"Fearful of being terminated, the plaintiff treated the injury conservatively, hoping it would get better," the suit says. "However, the problems persisted, and she finally requested medical care and filed for workers' compensation benefits."

Six months after the alleged incident, Delaney and Aker Kvaerner's other employees attended a safety meeting in which they were briefed on the status of one of their projects.

Delaney would later learn that she would not be needed for the rest of the project.

"On the afternoon of July 31, 2008, the plaintiff was called in by the defendant's employees, was told that the job was ending, and that she was being laid off in a reduction in forces," the suit says.

Delaney is seeking monetary damages as well as a jury trial.

Dickinson attorney Kerry L. Neves is representing Delaney and Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner is presiding over the case.

Case No. 09CV1197