A Pennsylvania woman has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging violations of federal disability and medical leave laws. Barbara Johannides lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on June 13, 2024, accusing Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. of wrongful termination and discrimination.
According to the court documents, Johannides began working as a Behavior Specialist for Skills of Central Pennsylvania in August 2022. In January 2023, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and later with fibromyalgia, with a possible diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Her doctor advised that she might need intermittent leave up to five days per month due to her condition. Despite this medical advice, Johannides alleges that her employer did not accommodate her needs and instead forced her onto medical leave.
The complaint states that Johannides called off work twice in February 2024 due to her health issues. She claims that when she informed Skills about the possibility of needing intermittent leave, they responded by saying it would be an undue burden to place her on medical leave—a request she asserts she never made. Instead of accommodating her needs, Johannides alleges that Skills treated her differently after learning about her possible MS diagnosis and eventually forced her onto unpaid leave.
"Employees at Skills are allowed to make up hours missed," Johannides stated in the filing. However, when she requested to make up four hours from home, she was denied and forced to use Paid Time Off (PTO) instead. Her last working day before being placed on FMLA was February 26, 2024, and she was terminated from her position on May 31, 2024.
Johannides is seeking damages under both the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She claims that Skills unlawfully interfered with her right to intermittent FMLA-protected leave and retaliated against her by terminating her employment. Furthermore, she alleges that Skills failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her disabilities as required under the ADA.
"The foregoing misconduct by Defendant was undertaken with malice and/or reckless indifference to Plaintiff's rights protected under federal law," reads one part of the complaint. Johannides is asking for lost wages, front pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees, prejudgment interest, continuing interest, and any other relief deemed necessary by the court.
The case is being handled by David M. Manes of Manes & Narahari LLC based in Pittsburgh. The presiding judge is yet to be named but will oversee Case No. 4:24-cv-00980-MEM.