Security guard claims workplace discrimination caused her to go into premature labor
HOUSTON TX July 13 2018 – Alleging the discrimination she experienced while employed as a security guard resulted in her delivering a premature baby almost two years ago, Richmond resident Filomena Garcia has filed a civil rights lawsuit.
The lawsuit, which was filed on July 11 in the Harris County 189th District Court, claims Houston-Harris Division Patrol, Inc. subjected a then-pregnant Garcia to a hostile work environment.
According to Garcia, she was close to entering her third trimester in late October 2016 when she was twice asked about being laid off because of her condition. She was later told by the company not to go back to duty at the subdivision she was assigned to, the suit says.
The defendant ultimately terminated Garcia, which purportedly caused her to go into labor ahead of her Feb. 4, 2017 due date.
“The plaintiff’s physician opined that the stress of the plaintiff losing her job may have resulted in the plaintiff going into labor prematurely,” the original petition says.
Garcia further explains that she attempted to regain employment with the respondent to no avail.
Consequently, the complainant seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by Daryl J. Sinkule and Todd Slobin of the law firm Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP in Houston.
Harris County 189th District Court Case No. 2018-46206
