PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia woman is suing her previous employer alleging discriminatory and retaliatory actions due to her disability.
Deborah Sparls filed a complaint on Oct. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Aramark Campus LLC, alleging violations of the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
The plaintiff alleges that in 2006 she was employed as a supervisor for the defendant and in 2007 was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia and vocal fold paralysis, which prevented her from controlling the volume of her voice. In the years following her diagnosis, Sparks claims that her disability negatively affected her abilities, and that she became increasingly discriminated against by several supervisors in particular. Between October 2013 and March 2014, she alleges that the defendant issued multiple warnings, even threatening the plaintiff's position when she took an approved medical leave. The plaintiff claims that it was outside of the employer's rights to retaliate based on her disability.
Sparks is seeking compensation of an unspecified amount for all fees and anguish incurred. She is represented by David M. Koller of Koller Law LLC in Philadelphia.