Sales manager files suit after being terminated one week before maternity leave begins

MARSHALL-One week before her scheduled maternity leave was to start, a sales manager was told she was being fired for not properly executing a trade document.

However, the manager claims she executed the document as she had been trained and was actually discriminated against because she was pregnant.

Shanna Hamilton filed suit against her employer, Universal Cable Holdings Inc., doing business as Suddenlink Communications, on March 23 in the Marshall division of the Eastern District of Texas.

Hired in March 2008, Hamilton states she strived to excel as a sales manager for a 14 city area. She states she increased the number of sales in her location and was considered a "new wave manager" by bringing new prospective to Suddenlink's sales. According to court records, the regional director of sales told Hamilton that she was the highest evaluated manager in his region.

In late 2008, she became pregnant with her third child and notified the defendant of her intent to take maternity leave through the short term disability she was provided. One week before her approved leave was scheduled to begin, she was terminated for failure to proper execute a trade document.

The plaintiff accuses the defendant of violating Title VII by intentionally discriminating against her because of her gender and pregnancy.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for the expenses of seeking other employment, lost wages and benefits, including loss of Social Security benefits, future lost wages and benefits, interest, court costs and attorney's fees.

Lufkin attorney Scott C. Skelton of the Zeleskey Law Firm PLLC is representing the plaintiff.

U.S. District Judge David Folsom is assigned to the litigation.

Case No 2:10cv00101