A former employee has filed a lawsuit against Springs Window Fashions, LLC, alleging multiple violations of disability rights laws. Katressa Baker filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on August 8, 2024.
Baker claims that her employer failed to accommodate her disabilities, which include migraines, ADHD, anxiety, and Tourette’s Syndrome. She asserts that these conditions substantially limit major life activities such as thinking, concentrating, and communicating. According to the filing, Baker began working at Springs Window Fashions through a temporary agency in September 2022 and was later hired full-time in January 2023. Despite disclosing her disabilities during the hiring process and requesting reasonable accommodations multiple times, Baker alleges that her employer did not provide adequate support.
The complaint details various instances where Baker's requests for accommodations were ignored or inadequately addressed. For example, she asked to move her workspace away from noisy coworkers due to her ADHD but was denied. Additionally, a shelf used to block fluorescent lighting—crucial for managing her migraines—was removed by the company and never replaced. Baker also faced discriminatory remarks from a coworker who belittled her use of stress-relief tools like a stress ball.
In April 2023, Baker received a performance evaluation indicating she was not meeting expectations and was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). She attributes this underperformance to the lack of necessary accommodations and new medication adjustments. Despite informing her supervisors about these issues and providing medical documentation supporting her need for specific accommodations, no effective measures were taken.
On June 19, 2023, Baker was terminated from her position for alleged performance-related issues. She contends that this termination was retaliatory in nature due to her repeated requests for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA).
Baker is seeking back wages, front pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages to punish intentional or malicious conduct by Springs Window Fashions LLC., attorney fees and costs incurred during litigation. She also requests pre-judgment interest and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Baker is attorney Benjamin Salvina from Marzzacco Niven & Associates. The case has been assigned Case ID: 4:24-cv-01340-CCC with Judge Christopher C. Conner presiding.