SCRANTON – A Lake Ariel woman is suing her former employer claiming she was fired while fighting cancer.
Mary Beth Bertig filed a lawsuit on Nov. 19 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Julia Ribaudo Healthcare LLC, doing business as Julia Ribaudo Extended Care Center and Brighten at Julia Ribaudo; Julia Ribaudo Senior Services LLC; and Saber Healthcare Group LLC, citing violations of Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Bertig, 56, claims she was employed by the company for more than 30 years as a nurse's aid and that during the last two years of her employment from 2012 to 2014, she underwent surgery for treatment of various health conditions, including cancer. Bertig claims she was discriminated against after her surgeries because she was unable to perform the same tasks as she was prior to surgery, and that management failed to properly document her absence from work as covered by the FMLA. Bertig claims this is a direct violation of her civil rights.
Bertig is seeking past and future lost earnings, salary, pay increases, bonuses, medical and other benefits, training, promotions, pensions, and seniority, as well as relief for emotional distress and pain and suffering, and costs of this suit. Bertig is represented by Ari. R. Karpf of Karpf, Karpf, & Cerutti LLC in Bensalem.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Case number 3:15-CV-02224-JMM