Harrah's Casino sued over claims of pregnancy discrimination

A manager for Harrah's Casino has filed a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit against the company after learning that she was replaced during maternity leave.

Leslie O. Monson filed suit against Jazz Casino Co. d/b/a Harrah's New Orleans Casino on Nov. 1 in federal court in New Orleans.

Monson was hired by the Defendant in 2007 as the advertising manager for Harrah's Casino in New Orleans. After a lateral move in November 2009, Monson discovered she was pregnant in January 2010. Within a few months, she notified the company that following the birth of her child she would take her leave as entitled.

She began her eight weeks of maternity leave in July 2010, the lawsuit states. A few days prior to her return from maternity leave, Monson discovered a woman in her office, doing her job with a new job with a new job title that Monson was in line to receive. She states that this was so devastating that it made future employment with Harrah's Casino intolerable so she resigned.

"This constructive termination, resulting from the intentional discrimination by Defendant because of Monson's pregnancy (sex), occurred with the full knowledge of Harrah's management and supervisory personnel, and Harrah's failed to exercise reasonable care either to prevent this international discrimination or to promptly correct this misconduct," the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff is asking the court for permanent injunction to stop the defendants from further pregnancy discrimination and for an award of pecuniary losses, relocation expenses, job search expenses, loss of future income, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, punitive damages and attorney's fees.

Monson is represented by Erin Casey Hangartner, Dominic J. Gianna and Hal D. Ungar of Middleberg, Riddle & Gianna in New Orleans.

A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-02716