Loyd
HOUSTON - Houston resident Tonia M. Gonzalez has filed suit against Carriage Inn - Huntsville LP after she was allegedly fired for having a disability.
A lawsuit filed July 9 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas claims Gonzalez "was subjected to discriminatory treatment based on her disability, and retaliated against (her) due to her disability."
The defendant, doing business as Carriage Inn Independent Senior Living, hired the plaintiff as its activity director approximately three years ago.
The suit shows Gonzalez sustained "a serious on the job injury that disabled her" in 2009 and underwent several injuries since, stating she returned to duty without a doctor's release on June 9, 2011, for 12 more days.
According to the original petition, the workman's compensation office had falsely claimed she was released to work, but her doctor had not released her.
Gonzalez alleges that upon her return, the defendant's owner "was directing employees to make the plaintiff's life miserable so that she would be forced to leave," according to the suit.
She tried to apply for the front desk coordinator position within the company, but was told "she would not be considered for the job," the suit says.
The defendant fired Gonzalez on Sept. 19, 2011.
A jury trial is requested.
Attorney John Bruster Loyd with Jones, Gillaspia & Loyd LLP in Houston is representing the plaintiff.
Case No. 4:12-cv-2047