Jay M. Simon
BATON ROUGE – A Baton Rouge woman is suing Target after she was allegedly retaliated against for filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Laura Marsh Frazier filed suit against Target Corporation, Tara Glasper and Target's insurers in the 19th Judicial Court on Nov. 5.
The plaintiff asserts she began her employment at Target, located at 2001 Millerville Rd., on Sept. 23, 2007. Frazier claims she informed Target company officials approximately 90 days after her employment began that she had been diagnosed with epilepsy and requested accommodations.
On Dec. 7, 2009, Frazier's neurologist forwarded documentation to Target confirming her diagnosis.
The plaintiff allegedly suffered an epileptic seizure on April 6, 2010 and she claims Target did not make emergency contact with family members, as indicated in her file.
She asserts that as a result of Target's alleged negligence, her children were left abandoned at their daycare facility while she lay unconscious in a local emergency room.
In May 2010, Frazier filed a complaint with the EEOC with Target's failure to acknowledge or attempt to accommodate her physical illnesses. Target received the letter on June 28, 2010 and Frazier claims that since then, she has been written up for tardiness.
The plaintiff also claims human resource leader, Glasper, began adjusting the work schedule after it publicly posted, without informing Frazier of the changes, providing justification for her tardiness.
Frazier suffered a partial seizure at work on Feb. 25, 2011 and once she recovered she requested to take her 15-minute break earlier than originally scheduled to regain her composure. The plaintiff claims she was chastised for her request and was terminated later that day.
Glasper is accused of engaging in a campaign to have the plaintiff terminated in contravention to law and the policy and procedures of her employment.
Target is accused of failing to make a reasonable accommodation for Fraizer's disability, promoting an agenda to terminate her employment and terminating her in retaliation of the EOCC complaint as well her ongoing requests for a reasonable accommodation in her employment.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for attorney fees, expert witness fees and costs of medical reports.
The plaintiff is represented by Jay M. Simon of Baton Rouge-based Duncan and Simon, LLC.
The case has been assigned to Division I Judge R. Michael Caldwell.
Case no. 616777.