PHILADELPHIA - A nurse is suing a skilled care facility, alleging Family and Medical Leave Act violations in her dismissal.
Kathleen Cassel of Sellersville filed a lawsuit June 5 in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Pine Run Retirement Community, also known as Pine Run Community, alleging wrongful termination.
According to the complaint, Cassel, a licensed practical nurse, began working for Pine Run in Doylestown Oct. 4, 2010, as an assistant director and was employed continuously with a satisfactory work record until her Dec. 3, 2014, termination. The suit states Cassel took time off from Oct. 2-13 due to her nephew’s sudden death, and then was stricken with diverticulitis.
She was hospitalized Oct. 14, and instructed by her doctor to take up to two more days off, the lawsuit states.
According to the suit, when Cassel was assigned extra tasks upon her return Oct. 27, she expressed discomfort with the delegation of extra work. The lawsuit states when Cassel experienced complications from her diverticulitis Oct. 30 and inquired about FMLA leave, she was told that co-workers were cleaning out her office.
Cassel says she was terminated Dec. 3 on the pretext of falsifying a document. She alleges violations of FMLA and failure to accommodate her health needs.
Cassel seeks actual damages for wages and benefits in excess of $150,000, interest, attorney and expert witness fees and court costs. She is represented by attorney Andrew Abramson of Abramson Employment Law in Blue Bell.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number: 2:15-cv-03168-GJP.