A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Lauren Boyd filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on September 10, 2024, accusing Cigna Healthcare of unlawful termination and discrimination based on her disabilities.
According to the court documents, Lauren Boyd began working for Cigna Healthcare as a customer service advocate on August 16, 2021. Her employment was terminated on September 13, 2023. Boyd claims that her termination was directly related to her medical conditions and her use of FMLA leave. She asserts that she suffered from chronic illnesses such as IBS and celiac disease, which led to anemia during flare-ups or contamination episodes. Additionally, she sustained injuries from an incident at Walmart on July 29, 2022, which exacerbated her health issues.
Boyd alleges that after experiencing gluten contamination in August 2023, she had severe symptoms that weakened her immune system. Despite utilizing approved voluntary unpaid time off and ADA days when necessary between August 11 and September 6, 2023, she faced further health complications including an upper respiratory infection and COVID-19. Boyd claims that Cigna initially refused approval for a single-infusion iron drug required due to low iron levels but suggested a five-infusion alternative instead. Given her work schedule of four-day ten-hour shifts, accommodating these infusions was challenging.
In early September 2023, Boyd applied for short-term disability due to extended time off but was terminated shortly thereafter for attendance issues. She contends that this decision came despite pending decisions on her FMLA/STD applications and previously approved unpaid time off by Cigna's workforce management.
Boyd argues that Cigna failed to engage in an interactive process after she requested accommodations for her disabilities and retaliated against her by terminating her employment. The complaint highlights multiple counts including ADA discrimination and retaliation as well as FMLA interference and retaliation.
As relief from the court, Boyd seeks reinstatement to her position with comparable salary and benefits along with compensatory damages exceeding $150,000 for back pay, front pay, lost wages, emotional distress among other damages. She also demands punitive damages along with attorney’s fees and court costs.
Representing Lauren Boyd is Mary LeMieux-Fillery from the Law Offices of Eric A. Shore P.C., while no specific attorneys are listed for Cigna Healthcare in the provided document.