PHILADELPHIA – A Bristol woman is suing a potential Bucks County employer over allegations she was not hired for a position due to a seizure condition.
Jamie Rhoades filed a complaint on March 27 in the Eastern District Court against St. Mary's Medical Center citing the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff applied for a position of dietary aid with the defendant on June 14, 2018. The plaintiff alleges she was told that she needed to undergo a physical exam and drug evaluation on June 21, 2018, and on June 28, 2018, she disclosed to the defendant that she suffered from seizures.
The plaintiff alleges on July 5, 2018, after already being offered the position and given a start date, the defendant's human resources partner called her to ask questions about her disorder. The defendant allegedly informed the plaintiff that due to the side effects of seizures, she would need to bring a change of clothes to work with her and the defendant put a hold on her starting with the company.
On July 12, 2018, the plaintiff alleges she was contacted again and the offer of the position was formally rescinded as she was said to be a safety liability. The following day, she alleges she was asked by the defendant's medical director to contact her neurologist to obtain a work release note, which she was able to get in August 2018. The suit states she learned Aug. 27, 2018, that the position had been filled.
The plaintiff is seeking all reasonable sums due, attorney fees and court costs. The plaintiff is represented by Ari R. Karpf of Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti in Bensalem.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:19-CV-01280-NIQA