HOUSTON — A former University of Houston pharmacology student claims she was forced to drop out of the program because she was denied reasonable accommodations for her pregnancy and other medical conditions.
Quynn Folkes filed a complaint Sept. 11 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against the University of Houston alleging violation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
According to the complaint, Folkes was admitted to the School of Pharmacology at the University of Houston in April of 2017. She alleges that in September of 2017, she requested accommodations of a "light load of school work" for the spring semester due to her pregnancy.
Folkes claims she was denied her request and that on Feb. 18, 2019, she informed the school's dean that her newborn son was in the ICU and suffered from medical complications and that she herself was sick and would be out of school during her recovery.
Folkes claims she was told she could not be off campus for more than two weeks or would have to withdraw from the program. Folkes further alleges that in March and May of 2019, she requested accommodations for generalized anxiety disorder and despite her providing medical records indicating her need for the accommodations, she had to drop out of the program in June of 2019.
Folkes claims the University discriminated against her due to her pregnancy and disability.
Folkes seeks monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. She is represented by Nathan Inurria and George Farah of The Farah Law Group PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:20-CV-03165