HOUSTON - Alleging the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County refused to hire her because of her disability, Erika Ramos DaSilva pursues legal action.
A lawsuit filed Oct. 22 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas shows DaSilva applied for a case manager position with the defendant only to be turned away since she suffers from bipolar disorder.
DaSilva previously worked with MHMRA as a case worker from January to October 2010, resigning due to hospitalization for a lengthy illness.
The suit says the agency did not flag the plaintiff for non-rehire and was reportedly made aware of her disability before she was hospitalized.
After earning a master's degree, DaSilva submitted an application for case manager II and was hired by way of an offer letter.
The complainant says she was supposed to start the same month, however, MHMRA contacted two hours after she accepted the position to inform her that she was declined because of "budget cuts."
The rejection in question notwithstanding, the plaintiff spent the entire summer reapplying for the case manager II post to no avail until the respondent granted her an interview opportunity which the suit claims was retracted because of the aforementioned budget cuts.
According to the original petition, MHMRA used financial problems as a pretext to not hire her because she was bipolar.
A jury trial is requested.
Attorney Ayesha G. Mutope-Johnson of Houston is representing DaSilva.
Case No. 4:12-CV-3136
Woman claims disability prompted Harris Co. MHMR not to hire her
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