Pregnant hair stylist sues employer over termination, miscarriage

GALVESTON - In a recently filed lawsuit, a Galveston County stylist claims a disagreement over a hair style led to her termination and caused her to suffer a miscarriage.

Jennifer Lindsey was a hair stylist at Sports Clips in Kemah when she fell while cutting a customer's hair on Oct. 17, 2009. The fall caused Lindsey, who was pregnant at the time, to injure her knee, ankle and hip.

In the lawsuit filed March 31 in Galveston County District Court, Lindsey claims she was ordered by her doctor to take time off, but two days later was threatened with termination by her supervisor Victoria Jefferson.

"Despite having been made aware of the physician's order that she could not yet resume her regular work duties, defendant Jefferson instructed the plaintiff that she would be terminated if she did not return to work that very day," the suit says.

Lindsey went in with a knee brace to avoid losing her job, and was "forced to work long shifts while in pain under the threat of impending termination," the original complaint states.

According to the complaint, on Oct. 25, Jefferson repeatedly yanked her backwards while she was styling a customer's hair, causing further injury to her knee.

"Defendant Jefferson apparently did not approve of the manner in which the plaintiff was styling the customer's hair, although the customer had requested such styling," the suit states.

The plaintiff then contacted the Kemah Police Department and accused Jefferson of assault. The charges are still under investigation and pending.

The suit states that Jefferson learned of the charges on Oct. 26 and verbally assaulted Lindsey and ordered her to leave the premises. She was then fired by Sports Clips, and subsequently suffered a miscarriage.

In the lawsuit, Jefferson, Veronica Lovins, Sports Clips IP Inc. and Sports Clips International Inc. are named co-defendants.

Lindsey seeks unspecified monetary damages for physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and mental anguish, medical expenses, and losses of income, parental consortium and enjoyment of life.

League City attorney J. Michael Hughes is representing Lindsey, and Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia is presiding over the litigation.

Case No. 10-cv-0918