Newly hired employee sues claiming termination result of pregnancy

SHERMAN - A newly hired employee claims she was discriminated against and terminated once her employer discovered she was pregnant.

Claiming gender and pregnancy discrimination, Traci Standifer-Henderson filed suit against Viamedia Inc. on Oct. 5 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.

Viamedia hired Standifer-Henderson on April 20, 2011, as an account executive covering the northeast Dallas market. According to the lawsuit, it was emphasized that new hires must make at least one sale prior to the end of their 90-day probationary period. Although she met this requirement, Standifer-Henderson states she was terminated from her job approximately three weeks before her scheduled delivery date.

Standifer-Henderson claims she was wrongfully terminated because of her pregnancy/sex/gender.

The defendant is accused of violating the Texas Labor Code for discrimination, retaliation and aiding or abetting discrimination.

The plaintiff is seeking an award of actual damages for lost wages including back pay and front pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages, interest, attorney’s fees and court costs.

Henderson is represented by Delwin E. Hervey and Maurice Owens Jr. of Owens Hervey PLLC in Dallas. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Ron Clark is assigned to the case.

Case No. 4:12-cv-00636