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PENNSYLVANIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Disabled consultant sues former employer claiming discriminatory discharge

Office chair empty

PHILADELPHIA - A Montgomery County professional filed suit against her Bucks County-based company and its parent firm claiming intentional age and disability discrimination in her 2014 job loss.

Christa Bick, of Huntingdon Valley, sued Model Consulting Inc. of Trevose, Pa., and CBIZ Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania on July 1 claiming violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act in her January 2014 dismissal.

The suit states that Bick, hired on or about Aug. 21, 2000, was terminated on or about Jan. 9, 2014, at the age of 64, purportedly due to her age and disability.

Bick avers that when she was diagnosed with health problems in 2012, she was still able to perform her duties adequately. Following treatment for a dizzy spell on or about Aug. 5, 2013, the defendant was allegedly resistant to her returning to work. Subsequently, she claims, she was allegedly denied office space and excluded from meetings.

According to the filing, the defendant reneged on previous assurances when Bick was not healthy enough to travel for work, allegedly treating her with hostility and ultimately terminating her on or about Jan. 9, 2014, on the pretext of budget constraints.

Maintaining that when she was dismissed, a younger, non-disabled and less-qualified employee was retained, Bick alleges pain, suffering, embarrassment, anguish and loss of earnings and benefits.

The plaintiff seeks declaratory judgment; compensatory and punitive damages; attorneys’ fees; and court costs. She is represented by Stephen Console and Katherine Oeltjen of Console Law Offices in Philadelphia.

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case 2:15-cv-03678-CMR.

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