SCRANTON—A Pennsylvania woman is suing Lackawanna County, alleging it violated her medical leave rights.
Laura Keller filed a lawsuit Dec. 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Lackawanna County, William Browning, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, alleging violations of the Family Medical Leave Act.
According to the suit, Keller worked for Lackawanna County in the Office of Youth and Family Services for more than 23 years. The suit alleges Keller provided a detailed doctor's note before she began her leave of absence April 27, 2015.
The lawsuit states the defendants never provided a date that Keller was required to return any additional type of FMLA certification, yet they then denied her certification June 8, 2015, without advising her what was allegedly deficient in the certification.
On June 16, 2015, the defendants fired Keller, specifically noting the FMLA and absence as one cause for the firing, the suit states.
Keller seeks injunctive relief, including reinstatement, lost wages, punitive damages, interests, attorney fees and other costs of the suit. She is represented by attorney Cynthia L. Pollick of Pittston.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Case number 3:15-CV-02511-MEM