A public school social worker is suing her jurisdictional employer alleging disability discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract in 2014 when she was allegedly denied employment because of illness.
Susan Bayer of Belleville filed a lawsuit on July 13 in Madison County Circuit Court against Alton Community Unit School District #11, Vickie Breckel and the Cahokia Unit School District #187 on charges of unlawful employment discrimination in November 2014.
According to the complaint, Bayer worked as a substitute teacher and social worker for both defendants in 2014. The plaintiff asserts that when she informed her employer that she had Multiple Sclerosis (MS), she was demoted, discharged and not rehired in November of 2014.
The suit states that no interactive engagement or reasonable accommodations were made. Bayer alleges that she was harassed as a consequence of objecting to her allegedly disparate treatment. Records indicate that Bayer’s job performance was satisfactory and she was refused continued employment despite qualifications and the fact that her contract was to be for one school year.
Claiming damage to her reputation, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses, humiliation and anguish, the plaintiff requests injunctive action and reinstatement, and liquidated and punitive damages of more than $50,000 plus attorneys’ fees and costs. Bayer is represented by The Law Office of John J. Pawloski in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-889