HOUSTON – A federal lawsuit accuses Legacy Community Health Services, Inc. doing business as Legacy Community Health, of wrongfully terminating a hearing impaired employee.
Marie Garcia filed the suit on Aug. 24 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas, stating she was discriminated against because of her disability.
Legacy employed Garcia as a collections specialist. She reportedly was “required to be on the phone often and (a) headset was an essential part of being able to carry out her job duties.”
According to the original petition, the defendant was aware of Garcia’s impairment, but failed to adequately accommodate her.
Garcia was eventually granted a headset upon her request, to which the suit says caused Legacy manager Michelle Robinson to start “a relentless campaign of harassment against” the complainant.
Court documents state that the defendant excluded Garcia from meetings, denied her time off to attend essential medical visits, and wrote her up “for unfounded and unsupported performance deficiencies.”
“All of this discriminatory and harassing conduct occurred after Marie requested the accommodation,” the suit says. “No other employee was treated in this manner.”
Legacy terminated the plaintiff in December 2017 after she complained about the hostile work environment in question.
Consequently, Garcia seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by Joshua A. Verde of The Verde Law Firm, PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas 4:18-CV-2929