BELLEVILLE — A former legal assistant at Prairie State Generating claims in-house counsel retaliated against her for taking leave to care for her sick mother.
Angela Kalous filed a complaint July 15 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Prairie State Generating Company (PSGC) LLC and Helen Gallagher, alleging violation of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and retaliatory discharge.
According to the complaint, Kalous began working for PSGC as a legal assistant in July 2010 and was promoted to senior legal assistant after five years of service. Kalous took leave in December 2018 to care for her mother who suffered from cancer and other illnesses, according to her suit.
Kalous alleges she received a "certification of health care provider for family member's serious health condition" on Jan. 9, 2019 and was approved for FMLA. Kalous took "intermittent FMLA leave" to drive her mother to and from medical appointments.
Kalous alleges Gallagher, who was PSGC's in-house counsel, began complaining about her missed work and told her that her husband should be taking her mother to doctor's appointments. Kalous claims that on Feb. 15, 2019, her position was eliminated and she was offered an identical position for a 90-day probationary period as a way to take her FMLA protections.
Kalous seeks monetary relief of $68,000 in back pay and at least $500,000 in additional compensation, plus all other just relief. She is represented by Brandy Smith of Newton Barth LLP in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-538