A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent hotel management company and its associated entity, alleging severe violations of federal and state employment laws. Laura MacDonald initiated the complaint on September 12, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against TPG Hotels and Resorts, Inc., and ANZ Hospitality, LLC.
The case revolves around multiple allegations including discrimination based on disability and age, retaliation under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and violations of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). MacDonald, who suffers from serious medical conditions such as Restrictive Lung Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis, claims that her disabilities were met with hostility by her employer. Hired in July 2021 as Director of Sales and Marketing at Sheraton Bucks County Hotel, she was allegedly subjected to discriminatory remarks and actions after new management took over in late 2023.
MacDonald's direct manager, Vinesha Wimberly, is accused of creating a toxic work environment by making ageist comments and treating MacDonald differently due to her health conditions. Despite disclosing her medical issues to Wimberly for transparency, MacDonald faced increased scrutiny and aggressive behavior. The situation escalated when Matthew Schaffer was hired as Director of Human Resources but resigned after just one week due to Wimberly's unprofessional conduct. Schaffer provided a sworn declaration supporting MacDonald's claims of discriminatory treatment.
The plaintiff alleges that her requests for reasonable accommodations were ignored or met with veiled threats about taking medical leave. In April 2024, she received a written warning filled with false performance issues as a pretext for termination. Despite raising complaints with higher management about this unfair treatment, no action was taken to address her concerns. On May 23, 2024, MacDonald was terminated under what she describes as false pretenses.
MacDonald seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits, liquidated damages for willful misconduct by the defendants, punitive damages to deter future violations, legal fees, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. She also demands a jury trial.
Representing Laura MacDonald is Ari R. Karpf from Karpf & Cerutti P.C., while details about the defense attorneys are not specified in the document. The case is presided over by an unnamed judge under Case ID 2:24-cv-04830.