SHERMAN - After losing her job due to violating the company’s attendance policy, a former lab assistant has filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against her former employer claiming the company would not approve her medical leave of absence due to her disability of depression.
Tracy Gillis-Schulze filed suit against Columbia North Texas Subsidiary GP, doing business as Medical Center of Plano, and Columbia Medical Center of Plano Subsidiary L.P., doing business as Medical Center of Plano, on April 22 in the Eastern District of Texas, Plano Division.
Gillis-Schulze was employed by the defendants as a lab assistant from July 2008 through May 2011. She was allegedly terminated due to violating the company’s attendance policy. At the time of termination, she was on medical leave of absence due to her disability of depression.
According to the lawsuit, Gillis-Schulze had shift from 5:00 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., which she claims made it difficult for her to get to work timely. The defendants refused to let her switch shifts stating that they did not want to “reward” Gillis-Schulze’s “bad behavior.”
The defendant is accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of damages for back pay and front pay, loss of employment benefits, mental anguish, punitive damages, liquidated damages, attorney’s fees and interest
Gillis-Schulze is represented by Plano attorney Laura E. Calhoun. A jury trial is requested.
Case No. 4:13-cv-00233