Charlotte D. Holliday has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Fresenius Medical Care NA, alleging racial and gender discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation. The complaint was lodged in the District Court of Harris County, Texas on January 17, 2025. Holliday claims that the company fostered a discriminatory workplace that led to emotional distress and reputational harm.
According to the petition, Charlotte D. Holliday has been employed by Fresenius Medical Care NA for over 18 years as a data analyst. Despite her long tenure and consistent performance, she alleges that she faced public disparagement from a Vice President during a group meeting on August 21, 2024. The Vice President reportedly made comments about her performance that singled her out as underperforming compared to other analysts and justified another coworker's promotion over her. As the only African American woman on the team, Holliday felt targeted by these remarks which were made publicly rather than addressed privately.
Holliday asserts that similar comments were not directed at employees outside of her protected classes of race and sex under comparable circumstances. She accuses Fresenius Medical Care NA of failing to take remedial action following these discriminatory remarks, thus fostering a hostile work environment in violation of Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA). This alleged conduct caused her significant emotional distress.
The lawsuit further claims that due to this hostile environment and subsequent retaliatory actions by Fresenius Medical Care NA, Holliday was forced to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Her application for Short-Term Disability benefits during this period was denied, which she believes is part of the retaliation against her for opposing discriminatory practices. Additionally, Holliday accuses Fresenius Medical Care NA of negligent supervision and retention of the Vice President who exhibited discriminatory tendencies.
Holliday seeks monetary relief ranging from $250,000 to $1 million for damages including back pay, front pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney's fees and costs, financial losses incurred during FMLA leave due to denied benefits, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest at legal rates allowed by law. She also demands a jury trial for this case.
Representing Charlotte D. Holliday is attorney Kevin Fulton from Fulton Law Group PLLC based in Houston. The case is filed under Case ID 2025-03849 in Harris County's 125th Judicial District Court.