SHERMAN - A Frisco business is facing a gender discrimination lawsuit for terminating the employment of one of the managers before she returned from maternity leave.
Sarah M. Lawry filed suit against Frisco Eye Associates, doing business as Frisco Eye Associates, on Aug. 17 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.
According to the suit, Lawry was hired by the defendant in May 2009 and was promoted to the position of the Optical Manager in 2010. She worked four days a week, plus every other weekend.
In late July 2011, Lawry went into early labor and thereafter, was placed on bed-rest by her physicians. In December 2011, she states she had a meeting with her supervisors to discuss the defendant’s expectations of her upon her return to work, the suit states.
According to the lawsuit, Lawry was told to contact the supervisors with a response about her work schedule. The day after she emailed the defendant about the schedule she was terminated, with the defendant claiming that they viewed her email as a resignation, the suit states.
“Sarah did not voluntarily resign, but rather was unlawfully involuntarily terminated from her position because of her sex (female/caregiver and pregnancy)," the lawsuit states.
The defendant is accused of violating Lawry’s civil rights by gender discrimination.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of damages for back pay, front pay, lost benefits, mental anguish, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, interest and court costs.
Lawry is represented by Laura E. Calhoun and Connie Pena of Calhoun Pena Corsentino P.C. in Frisco. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Ron Clark is assigned to the case.
Case No. 4:12-cv-00537
Frisco business sued for terminating manager during maternity leave
