PITTSBURGH – A Westmoreland County woman is suing her county employer alleging she was terminated from her job in retaliation based on familial affiliation.
Jessica Burnsworth filed a complaint on June 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Westmoreland County and Lisa Harkins alleging violation of freedom of association.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was employed by the county at its nursing home, Westmoreland Manor, and Harkins was the facility's human resource manager. She alleges she began her employment with the defendant in May 2014 and her mother was also employed there as a nurse aide.
On July 10, 2018, the suit states Harkins subjected the plaintiff's mother to a drug test based on false allegations from another employee that her mother was illegally using drugs. The plaintiff alleges her mother was terminated despite the drug test not finding any traces of illegal drugs.
The suit states the following day, the plaintiff was suspended indefinitely by Harkins and then terminated on July 18, 2018. The plaintiff alleges she believes her termination was a result of her familial association with her mother and Harkins' alleged perception of a conflict of interest.
The plaintiff is seeking all reasonable sums due, attorney fees and court costs. The plaintiff is represented by Joel S. Sansone, Massimo A. Terzigni and Elizabeth A. Tuttle of the Law Offices of Joel Sansone in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case number 2:19-CV-00650