Blasi
A Madison County woman claims her employer fired her after she refused to return to work upon doctor's orders.
Regina Walters filed a lawsuit Sept. 27 in Madison County Circuit Court against Olin Corporation.
In her complaint, Walters claims she injured her back while working. Walters was dumping 120 pounds of lead into a hopper when she sustained the injury, according to the complaint.
Following the incident and after coming under the care of a neurosurgeon, Walters filed for workers' compensation benefits, the suit states.
She eventually underwent a spinal fusion surgery that Olin paid for, the complaint says. Thereafter, Walters claims she continued to provide her employer with updates and with work-off slips from her doctor.
On March 12, 2010, Olin had a physician examine Walters. The physician determined that Walters could return to work with certain restrictions, according to the complaint.
However, Walters's neurosurgeon would not drop restrictions that prevented Walters from returning to her job, the suit states.
"Despite this knowledge, Olin demanded that she disobey her own doctor's restrictions and return to work or get fired immediately," the complaint says.
Walters claims she was terminated from her job on April 1, 2010.
On Dec. 5, 2011, Olin rescinded the termination, but shortly afterwards found another reason to fire Walters, according to the complaint.
Because of her job loss, Walters lost income and benefits and suffered emotional distress and mental anguish, the suit states.
Peter S. Blasi of Evans Blasi in Granite City will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-1551.