LUFKIN — A Lufkin woman who suffered a severe leg fracture while working at the Burke Center is alleging that she was not given reasonable accommodation upon her return to work and that her employer said the injuries were caused by her own carelessness.
Susan Ingle filed a complaint on Oct. 28 in the Lufkin Division of the Eastern District of Texas against Burke Center, alleging violation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act retaliation and age discrimination. Ingle, who is over 40 years old, had worked for the Burke Center for eight years when she suffered the leg fracture on September 25, 2015, according to the suit.
In her complaint, Ingle alleges that she returned to work in December 2015, had to use a wheelchair and was under "non-weight" restrictions. She claims she was denied her accommodation and told not to return to work without a "full-duty release" from a clinic supervisor.
In January 2016, Ingle required treatment for an infection as a result of her leg injury and was hospitalized until March 2016. She was terminated when she returned to work after the hospitalization.
Ingle seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by William Hommel, Jr. of the Hommel Law Firm in Tyler.
Lufkin Division of the Eastern District of Texas case number 9:19-cc-00195-RC-ZJH