HOUSTON — A Harris County woman is suing her employer, alleging she was terminated due to her age and disabled status.
Amber Wendel filed a complaint July 9 in Harris County District Court against Hartman Income Reit Inc., alleging failure to accommodate, disability discrimination, age discrimination and violation of the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Wendel began working for Hartman Income as an administrative assistant in July 2015. The plaintiff alleges she fell and injured her left shoulder Nov. 4, 2017, at work and filed for worker's compensation while taking time off until Nov. 9, 2017.
The suit says Wendel began physical therapy for her injury and she was told that she would never reach full functionality with her shoulder again. The plaintiff alleges she was still able to complete her work and the defendant knew her limitations.
The plaintiff says she regularly received positive commendations but on Jan. 23, 2018, when she was 59, she was terminated from her position. The plaintiff was told that she was being terminated due to an unprofessional foul odor but Hartman Income was unable to provide her any specific examples. Wendel says she had never previously received any complaints about foul odors.
Wendel seeks between $100,000 and $200,000, trial by jury, interest, exemplary and punitive damages, all court costs and all other just relief. She is represented by attorney Jacques P. Leeds of Leeds Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2019-46387