HOUSTON – An African-American woman alleges her race and sex were factors in her termination from her job with an energy company.
Harriet Lane filed a complaint on Feb. 7 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Siemens Energy Inc. alleging violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff began her employment with the defendant as an internal auditor in November 2014 when it acquired Rolls-Royce Energy Systems. She alleges in March 2016, a Caucasian male employee and subjected her to a hostile work environment, including bullying and excessive monitoring, because of her color, race and sex.
The suit states the plaintiff took short-term disability leave beginning in February 2017 for three months and when she returned, she was placed on a performance improvement plan. The plaintiff took another leave under FMLA to hear for her son in July 2017, the suit states. On Oct. 13, 2017, the suit states she was terminated.
The plaintiff holds Siemens Energy Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly subjected her to employment discrimination, hostile work environment and termination based on race, color and sex and in retaliation for taking protected medical leave.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks actual, compensatory and punitive damages; liquidated damages; attorneys’ fees; costs and such further, additional relief as may appear equitable and just. She is represented by Ashok Bail of The Bail Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-cv-00435