PHILADELPHIA — A former Temple University employee is suing the school, alleging wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation.
Ruth V. Briggs of Philadelphia filed lawsuit Jan. 20 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Temple University, alleging violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
According to the complaint, Briggs began working at Temple in February 2001 as an editorial assistant in the Center for Neuro/Cancer Biology. In October 2009, she became executive assistant to the chair of the Department of Computer Information Sciences, until she was terminated April 1, 2014, the suit says.
The lawsuit states Briggs' superior at Temple began discriminating against her regarding her age and sex beginning in November 2011. The plaintiff alleges several instances of harassment over the next couple years, for which she attempted to get help, but says no one was able to alleviate the situation.
On the date of her termination, the suit says, Briggs was going to meet with one of Temple's employees to discuss the situation but was given notice of her termination instead. The plaintiff alleges discrimination and retaliation were the primary causes of her being let go.
Briggs seeks compensatory damages for all lost earnings, earning capacity and benefits, past and future, liquidated damages, punitive damages, cost of suit, expert fees and attorney fees. She is represented by attorney Rahul Munshi of Console Law Offices LLC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-00248-RK