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Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 1 of 11. PageID #: 1
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`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
`WESTERN DIVISION
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`Plaintiff,
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`JOETTA KYNARD
`3738 North Beverly Hills Drive
`Toledo, Ohio 43614
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`vs.
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`PROMEDICA HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.
`aka and/or dba PROMEDICA FLOWER
`HOSPITAL
`5200 Harroun Rd
`Sylvania, Ohio 43560
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`Defendant.
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`Case No.:
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`Judge:
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`COMPLAINT; JURY DEMAND
`ENDORSED HEREON
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`Francis J. Landry (0006072)
`Katherine A. Macek (0086885)
`WASSERMAN, BRYAN, LANDRY &
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`HONOLD, LLP
`1090 W. South Boundary St., Suite 500
`Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
`Telephone: (419) 243-1239
`Facsimile: (419) 243-2719
`Email: FLandry308@aol.com
` kpawlak@wblhlaw.com
`Attorney for Plaintiff, Joetta Kynard
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`JURISDICTION
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`1. Jurisdiction of this Court is invoked pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1331, 1337, 1343, 2201 and
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`2202. This is an action for a violation of 42 U.S.C. Sections 12101 et seq., known as the Americans
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`with Disabilities Act. This action, in part, is one for money damages, reinstatement, and liquidated
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`damages resulting from an alleged unlawful termination of employment in violation of the
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`Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiff also brings claims pursuant to Title VII of the Civil
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`1
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`

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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 2 of 11. PageID #: 2
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`Rights Act of 1964 as amended and as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C.
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`Sections 2000e et seq. for racial and gender based discrimination. On July 17, 2021, Plaintiff filed
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`a charge of discrimination with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission and Equal Employment
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`Opportunity Commission on the basis of inter alia, disability, race and gender, charge number
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`22A-2021-02365c, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference herein. On October
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`27, 2021 the district director of the EEOC notified Plaintiff of her right to file suit within ninety
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`days in an appropriate federal district court, attached hereto as Exhibit B. On October 21, 2021 the
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`Toledo Regional Director of the OCRC notified Plaintiff of her right to file suit court, attached
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`hereto as Exhibit C. This Court’s supplemental jurisdiction is also invoked over state law claims.
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`PARTIES
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`2.
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`Plaintiff, Joetta Kynard (“Plaintiff”), is a resident of the City of Toledo, County of Lucas,
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`State of Ohio, who was employed by Promedica Flower Hospital., most recently as a Chaplain. At
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`all times material hereto, Plaintiff was an employee of an employer within the meaning of the Civil
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`Rights Act, ADAAA, and the Ohio Civil Rights Act, in that Plaintiff was employed by an employer
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`with more than twenty-five (25) employees.
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`3.
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`Defendant, Promedica Flower Hospital., (“Defendant” or “Promedica”), is an Ohio
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`corporation with a location in Sylvania, Ohio. Defendant is an employer within the meaning of the
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`Civil Rights Act, ADAAA, and the Ohio Civil Rights Act, in that it employs more than twenty-
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`five (25) employees.
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`FACTS
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`4.
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`Plaintiff was employed by Defendant from May of 2018 until her termination April 6,
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`2021. Plaintiff began her employment as a per diem Chaplain until she was awarded a full time
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`Chaplain position in September of 2019.
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`2
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`

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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 3 of 11. PageID #: 3
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`5.
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`6.
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`Throughout her employment, Plaintiff performed her job well.
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`Due to a family tragedy Plaintiff took a personal leave of absence from September 4, 2019
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`until January 5, 2020.
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`7.
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`When Plaintiff returned from her leave of absence she was closely monitored, scrutinized,
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`forced to work extra hours, and issues pertaining to her leave were disclosed to staff members
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`without Plaintiff’s prior knowledge or permission.
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`8.
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`Plaintiff needed a second leave of absence beginning July 6, 2020, with an initial return to
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`work date of October 2020. However, Plaintiff was not able to return to work on her initial return
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`to work date.
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`9.
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`Plaintiff was thereafter terminated on April 6, 2021.
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`FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Disability Discrimination, Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.02
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`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`10.
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`nine (9) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`11.
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`Plaintiff states that she is a disabled individual within the meaning of Ohio Revised Code
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`Section 4112.02(a)(13). Alternatively, Plaintiff was disabled on the basis of her record of medical
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`impairments and because she was perceived by defendant as being disabled. Although disabled,
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`Plaintiff is able to safely and substantially perform the essential functions of her job with or without
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`an accommodation. Plaintiff was well qualified for her position, and performed her job well.
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`12.
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`Plaintiff states that she suffers from a serious health condition, including abnormal grief
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`and post traumatic stress disorder. These disabling conditions severely impacted her daily life
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`functions including but not limited to concentrating, interacting with others, and thinking.
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`3
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 4 of 11. PageID #: 4
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`13.
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`Defendant was aware of Plaintiff’s disabling conditions, as she requested a leave of
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`absence due to her disabilities. Plaintiff requested a reasonable accommodation of half days of
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`work, but her request was denied.
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`14.
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`On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff was terminated. Plaintiff was allegedly terminated for
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`exhausting her leave of absence time. Said reason is false and pretextual, as Plaintiff was issued a
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`return to work date, and would have been able to return to work earlier if Defendant would have
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`accommodated her reasonable request of working half days.
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`15.
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`Employees who were not disabled retained their positions. Upon information and belief,
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`Plaintiff’s position was filled after her termination.
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`16.
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`Plaintiff states Defendant’s actions violated Plaintiff’s rights under Section 4112.02(A)
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`made actionable pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.99 as amended on the basis of
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`disability.
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`17.
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`As a proximate result of the actions of Defendant complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered personal and financial damage, harassment, and great mental and emotional stress,
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`anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend court costs and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Disability Discrimination
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`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`18.
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`seventeen (17) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`19.
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`Plaintiff states that she is a disabled individual within the meaning of the ADAAA.
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`Alternatively, Plaintiff was disabled on the basis of her record of medical impairments and because
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`she was perceived by defendant as being disabled. Although disabled, Plaintiff is able to safely
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`4
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 5 of 11. PageID #: 5
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`and substantially perform the essential functions of her job with or without an accommodation.
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`Plaintiff was well qualified for her position, and performed her job well.
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`20.
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`Plaintiff states that she suffers from a serious health condition, including abnormal grief
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`and post traumatic stress disorder. These disabling conditions severely impacted her daily life
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`functions including but not limited to concentrating, interacting with others, and thinking.
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`21.
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`Defendant was aware of Plaintiff’s disabling conditions, as she requested a leave of
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`absence due to her disabilities. Plaintiff requested a reasonable accommodation of half days of
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`work, but her request was denied.
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`22.
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`On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff was terminated. Plaintiff was allegedly terminated for
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`exhausting her leave of absence time. Said reason is false and pretextual, as Plaintiff was issued a
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`return to work date, and would have been able to return to work earlier if Defendant would have
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`accommodated her reasonable request of working half days.
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`23.
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`Employees who were not disabled retained their positions. Upon information and belief,
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`Plaintiff’s position was filled after her termination.
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`24.
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`Plaintiff states Defendant’s actions violated Plaintiff’s rights under the Americans with
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`Disabilities Act as Amended.
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`25.
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`As a proximate result of the actions of Defendant complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered personal and financial damage, harassment, and great mental and emotional stress,
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`anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend court costs and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Racial Discrimination
`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`26.
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`twenty-five (25) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`5
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 6 of 11. PageID #: 6
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`27.
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`Plaintiff is an African American individual. Plaintiff was well qualified for her position,
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`and performed her job well. On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff was terminated. Plaintiff was allegedly
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`terminated for exhausting her leave of absence time. Said reason is false and pretextual, as Plaintiff
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`was issued a return to work date, and would have been able to return to work earlier if Defendant
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`would have accommodated her reasonable request of working half days.
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`28.
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`Plaintiff stated that she was treated less favorably than Caucasian employees who were
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`similarly situated, as they were not required to work per diem hours on call when pursuing their
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`CPE training, but Plaintiff was required to do so.
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`29.
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`Plaintiff states that similarly situated Caucasian employees were more favorably treated.
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`Furthermore, Caucasian employees were not terminated for the same issue as Plaintiff was
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`terminated. . In terminating Plaintiff, Defendant has intentionally discriminated against her on the
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`basis of her race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended and as
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`amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e et seq.
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`30.
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`As a proximate result of the actions of Defendant as complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered the loss of her job position, back wages, seniority, fringe benefits and pension benefits,
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`diminished earning capacity and great mental and emotional stress, anxiety, humiliation and
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`embarrassment all to her damage. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend litigation expenses and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.02, Racial Discrimination
`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`31.
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`thirty (30) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`32.
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` Plaintiff is an African American individual. Plaintiff was well qualified for her position,
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`and performed her job well. On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff was terminated. Plaintiff was allegedly
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`6
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 7 of 11. PageID #: 7
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`terminated for exhausting her leave of absence time. Said reason is false and pretextual, as Plaintiff
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`was issued a return to work date, and would have been able to return to work earlier if Defendant
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`would have accommodated her reasonable request of working half days.
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`33.
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`Plaintiff stated that she was treated less favorably than Caucasian employees who were
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`similarly situated, as they were not required to work per diem hours on call when pursuing their
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`CPE training, but Plaintiff was required to do so.
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`Plaintiff states that similarly situated Caucasian employees were more favorably treated.
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`Furthermore, Caucasian employees were not terminated for the same issue as Plaintiff was
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`terminated. . In terminating Plaintiff, Defendant has intentionally discriminated against her on the
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`basis of her race in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.02(A) made actionable pursuant
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`to Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.99 as amended.
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`34.
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`As a proximate result of the actions of Defendants as complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered the loss of her job position, back wages, seniority, fringe benefits and pension benefits,
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`diminished earning capacity and great mental and emotional stress, anxiety, humiliation and
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`embarrassment all to her damage. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend litigation expenses and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Gender Discrimination
`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`35.
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`thirty-four (34) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`36.
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`Plaintiff is a female individual. Plaintiff was well qualified for her position, and performed
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`her job well. On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff was terminated. Plaintiff was allegedly terminated for
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`exhausting her leave of absence time. Said reason is false and pretextual, as Plaintiff was issued a
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`7
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 8 of 11. PageID #: 8
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`return to work date, and would have been able to return to work earlier if Defendant would have
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`accommodated her reasonable request of working half days.
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`37.
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`Plaintiff stated that she was treated less favorably than male employees who were similarly
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`situated, as they were not required to were not required to work per diem hours on call when
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`pursuing their CPE training, but Plaintiff was required to do so.
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`38.
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`Plaintiff states that similarly situated male employees were more favorably treated.
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`Furthermore, male employees were not terminated for the same issue as Plaintiff was terminated.
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`. In terminating Plaintiff, Defendant has intentionally discriminated against her on the basis of her
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`race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended and as amended by the
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`Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e et seq.
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`39.
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`As a proximate result of the actions of Defendant as complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered the loss of her job position, back wages, seniority, fringe benefits and pension benefits,
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`diminished earning capacity and great mental and emotional stress, anxiety, humiliation and
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`embarrassment all to her damage. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend litigation expenses and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.02, Gender Discrimination
`Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`40.
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`thirty-nine (39) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`41.
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`Plaintiff is a female individual. Plaintiff was well qualified for her position, and performed
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`her job well. On April 1, 2021, Plaintiff was terminated. Plaintiff was allegedly terminated for
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`exhausting her leave of absence time. Said reason is false and pretextual, as Plaintiff was issued a
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`return to work date, and would have been able to return to work earlier if Defendant would have
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`accommodated her reasonable request of working half days.
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`8
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 9 of 11. PageID #: 9
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`42.
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`Plaintiff stated that she was treated less favorably than male employees who were similarly
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`situated, as they were not required to work per diem hours on call when pursuing their CPE
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`training, but Plaintiff was required to do so.
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`43.
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`Plaintiff states that similarly situated male employees were more favorably treated.
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`Furthermore, male employees were not terminated for the same issue as Plaintiff was terminated.
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`. In terminating Plaintiff, Defendant has intentionally discriminated against her on the basis of her
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`gender in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4112.02(A) made actionable pursuant to Ohio
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`Revised Code Section 4112.99 as amended.
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`44.
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`As a proximate result of the actions of Defendants as complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered the loss of her job position, back wages, seniority, fringe benefits and pension benefits,
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`diminished earning capacity and great mental and emotional stress, anxiety, humiliation and
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`embarrassment all to her damage. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend litigation expenses and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
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`45. Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation contained in paragraphs one (1) through
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`forty-four (44) of this Complaint, supra, by reference in its entirety as if fully restated herein.
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`46. Plaintiff states that during the course of her employment, Defendant intentionally engaged
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`in a course of conduct which was outrageous and beyond all possible bounds of decency and such
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`that no reasonable person could be expected to endure the same. Plaintiff states that Defendant’s
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`conduct was calculated to cause and did cause Plaintiff to suffer serious emotional stress.
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`47.
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`Plaintiff states that Defendant rejected her request to work half days against her
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`psychiatrist’s advice, required Plaintiff to communicate with her supervisor throughout her second
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`leave of absence, monitored her, scrutinized, forced her to work extra hours, and issues pertaining
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`9
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 10 of 11. PageID #: 10
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`to her leave were disclosed to staff members without Plaintiff’s prior knowledge or permission.
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`These actions were so outrageous that Plaintiff suffered emotional distress and needed to take a
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`leave of absence.
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`48. As a proximate result of the actions of Defendant complained of herein, Plaintiff has
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`suffered personal and financial damage, harassment, and great mental and emotional stress,
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`anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment. Plaintiff has also been forced to expend court costs and
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`attorney’s fees.
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`WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant for compensatory and punitive
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`damages for lost back pay, front pay, benefits, emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation and
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`embarrassment plus her costs, interest and reasonable attorney fees. Plaintiff seeks an amount of
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`liquidated damages equal to her damages and costs and attorney fees all together with prejudgment
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`and post judgment interest. Plaintiff further prays for whatever other legal or equitable relief she
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`may appear to be entitled to.
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`WASSERMAN, BRYAN, LANDRY & HONOLD, LLP
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` s/Francis J. Landry
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`Francis J. Landry
`Attorney for Plaintiff, Joetta Kynard
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`10
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`Case: 3:22-cv-00105-JJH Doc #: 1 Filed: 01/19/22 11 of 11. PageID #: 11
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`Plaintiff demands a jury trial as to all issues to triable in the within cause.
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`JURY DEMAND
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` s/Francis J. Landry
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`Francis J. Landry
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`11
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