Former hospital employees say positions eliminated because of age

HOUSTON - Four people accuse Tomball Texas Hospital Co. LLC of eliminating their positions because of their ages, recent court documents say.

In court papers filed May 7 in Harris County District Court, Ann Marie Paradowski, of Magnolia; Lynne Jones, of Cypress; Sheila Luedke, of Tomball; and Randy Carr, of Richmond assert "no legitimate nondiscriminatory reason" for the defendant to discharge them.

Houston federal court received the litigation on June 3.

The lawsuit shows the plaintiffs were employed at Tomball Regional Medical Center prior and during the respondent's acquisition of the facility in October 2011, but the defendant terminated them six months later.

According to the original petition, the complainants learned about their fates during a meeting with hospital administration, who reportedly told them that their dismissals was a "reorganization to put the right people in the right jobs."

"Such a statement is completely contrary to the reasons that the defendant gave the plaintiffs for their terminations," the suit says.

It adds the respondent had plenty of positions available for which the plaintiffs qualified, but the latter were not offered opportunities to apply.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Daryl J. Sinkule of Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP in Houston is representing the complainants.

Case No. 4:13-CV-1621