PHILADELPHIA — A dental hygienist is suing her former employer, a dental clinic in Narberth, alleging that she was discriminated against due to a disability.
Priscilla Krarup of Havertown filed a complaint on Feb. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Markowitz, Dellheim and Block DMD, LLC, alleging that the dental clinic terminated her employment on the basis of her disability.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that in September 2013, she was diagnosed with severe contact dermatitis and confirmed allergic to thiuram, which is present in latex and nitrile gloves, and to glutaraldehyde, a disinfectant for sterilization - both were used in the dental clinic.
The plaintiff holds the clinic responsible because the defendant allegedly ignored Krarup's request to find an alternative disinfection method despite being open about her condition. Instead, the defendant reduced her working hours until she was informed that she was being terminated due to her performance, even though she did not receive any disciplinary warning, the complaint said.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks appropriate relief, including reinstatement or front pay; a rate of pay and other benefits to which she should have been entitled; wages and other benefits lost; punitive damages; compensatory damages; attorneys’ fees; and any further relief the court deems proper.. She is represented by James Bell IV and Christopher Macey, Jr. of Bell & Bell LLP in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-00861-GAM