HOUSTON – A Harris County woman is suing over claims that she was wrongfully terminated because of her pregnancy.
Heidi Naylor filed the suit Oct. 2 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Katy Learning Center Inc. in Katy, citing violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and retaliation.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff, who was hired in February 2014, was pregnant at the time and informed the defendants about her pregnancy. She worked for the defendant as an applied behavioral analysis therapist, working with children who had special needs.
When the plaintiff was 5 1/2 months pregnant, she says the defendants informed her she had to take a leave of absence. Defendant said the plaintiff couldn't attend upcoming educational training, climb stairs, bend or lift a 50-pound child because of her pregnancy, the suit claims. She never had any such limitations, she says, and she had never needed to lift a 50-pound child.
The plaintiff attempted to speak to the defendant about not wanting to take a leave, but the defendant refused to discuss the matter and fired her outright, the suit claims.
The plaintiff seeks actual damages including back pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and court costs. She also requests a trial by jury.
The plaintiff's attorney is Jakki A. Hansen of The Hansen Law Firm in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:15-cv-02889