An Eagleville sales representative has sued a laboratory equipment business, alleging defamation and breach of contract.
Deirdre Garcia filed a lawsuit April 30 against Scientifix and George Lynch, both of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleging defamation and breach of contract.
According to the complaint, Garcia, employed by Scientifix as a sales representative from October 2005 until March 2012, previously alleged Scientifix failed to pay her commissions earned in 2011 and 2012, and filed a complaint against the defendants, along with two other company officers, July 12, 2013. The parties reached an agreement at a March 18, 2014, settlement conference, including a non-disparagement clause, according to the suit.
Garcia is currently employed by Flatiron Building Company to recruit proposals for projects including lab renovations in the Philadelphia area. The suit states in early April she circulated an RFP (request for proposal) at Temple University for qualified bidders, including the defendant.
According to the suit, Lynch emailed involved parties at Flatiron and one of its contractors April 14, stating explicitly that Scientifix would refuse to bid if Garcia was involved, and falsely alleging she had behaved unprofessionally in the past.
The plaintiff contends the defendants intentionally portrayed her as unethical and untrustworthy, damaging her reputation. She cites breach of contract, interference with prospective contractual relations and defamation.
Garcia seeks compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $150,000, attorney fees and court costs. She is represented by attorney Andrew Abramson of Abramson Employment Law of Blue Bell.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number: 2:15-cv-02392-JLS