HOUSTON – A Harris County man has taken the University of Texas Health Science Center to court on allegations it terminated him because he was treated for anxiety and stress disorders.
William Kersten brought a lawsuit against his former employer and Dr. Susan Landry, his ex-director supervisor, on Mar. 14 in the Harris County 189th District Court.
Once the Director of Management Operations in Pediatrics for UT Health, Kersten explains that he took FMLA leave in February 2018 to be seen for his condition.
Landry allegedly questioned the plaintiff’s ability to perform his job upon learning of his diagnosis and need for leave.
“Upon Kersten’s return, she launched a plan to terminate him,” the 8-page original petition asserts. “She severely criticized his performance, claims others shared her views, and placed him on a performance plan she ensured would fail.”
The respondents fired Kersten two months later.
Consequently, the complainant seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by Samantha Martinez of the Martinez Firm, PLLC in Houston.
Harris County 189th District Court Case No. 2019-18941