A former employee at the University of Pennsylvania believes she was fired because she had pursued what school officials allege was a bogus age and discrimination lawsuit against the university.
Pamela Macknet of Philadelphia filed a lawsuit against the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania demanding a jury trial and citing age and disability discrimination, as well as retaliation.
On or about Sept. 19, 2014, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a "right to sue" letter to Macknet, allowing her to sue the University of Pennsylvania for age and disability discrimination. After the expiration of 90 days, Macknet decided not to file in federal district court. On Dec. 10, 2014, the day after Macknet’s right to sue letter expired, she was called into the office of Helen Silvieri, at the university, where Amanda Smith was also present, the lawsuit claims.
Smith, the lawsuit claims, handed Macknet a paper with notification of termination due to a "bogus Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act violation and 'unsatisfactory work performance,'" according to the lawsuit. Macknet, in her lawsuit, believes she was retaliated against for engaging in a protected activity insofar as she had previously filed an administrative complaint with the EEOC.
Macknet is being represented by Timothy M. Kolman, Wayne A. Ely and W. Charles Sipio of Kolman Ely, P.C. in Penndel.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:15-cv-05321