HOUSTON — A former UPS employee is seeking more than $1 million in her suit against the company claiming she was discriminated and retaliated against for taking medical leave because of her disability.
Alicia Thomas filed a complaint July1 in Harris County District Court against United Parcel Service Inc., alleging violation of the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act for disability discrimination.
Thomas worked for UPS from Oct. 17, 2017, through Aug. 15, 2019 when she alleges in her suit that she was wrongfully terminated. Thomas has a "seizure disorder" which causes her to have vertigo and claims that she has required medical leave because of the disability.
Thomas alleges that on Jan. 4, 2019, in the presence of a union steward, her supervisor told her she faced a "potential warning letter" and that UPS wanted to fire her because of her disability. Thomas claims that after she filed a grievance and alleged discrimination, she began to face retaliation including being "written up" for "performance and attendance issues."
She alleges the discrimination continued after she returned from medical leave which caused her to file another complaint about the alleged discrimination in July of 2019. Thomas was fired on Aug. 9, 2019 and claims it was due to her disability.
Thomas seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, trial by jury, interest and all other proper relief. She is represented by Jamie Gilmore and Brittney Thompson of Bailey. & Galyen in Fort Worth.
Harris County District Court case number 2020-39127