EAST ST. LOUIS - A former employee at The Villas at St. James claims she was wrongfully terminated after requesting time off for treatments to address side effects from cancer.
Elizabeth Deiters filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Meridian Senior Living, doing business as The Villas at St. James, Inc., and Shannon Paden, alleging violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act and discharge against public policy.
According to the complaint, Deiters was employed at The Villas at St. James, Inc. when she requested one day a month off work to have a series of six Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) infusions due to her low immune condition following cancer treatments. Deiters claims she was then terminated from her position a few days after notifying supervisor Paden of the need for time off work.
Prior to the termination, Deiters claims she had also complained of the defendants' illegal activity of admitting persons who could not pass a tuberculosis (TB) screening or did not have a valid TB test for admission, as required by Illinois Law.
Deiters alleges she was subjected to repeated harassment and threats, as well as retaliation, for her needed time off and complaining about illegal activities.
Deiters seeks actual and punitive damages in excess of $75,000.00, plus court costs and attorneys fees. Deiters is represented by John J. Pawloski of St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:21-cv-01555-JPG