Discrimination lawsuit claims termination result of pregnancy

NEW ORLEANS - A convenience store manager has filed a lawsuit claiming she was terminated after asking for early maternity leave at her doctor’s request.

Nancy Bouey filed suit against The Pantry Inc. d/b/a Kangaroo Express on July 24 in St. Tammany Parish District Court. The defendant removed the case to federal court in New Orleans on Aug. 14.

Bouey was employed by Pantry on Sept. 17, 2007 as the assistant manager of Kangaroo Express located in St. Tammany Parish. She was promoted to district manager in March 2009. She suffered a miscarriage in October 2009 and requested a reassignment from district manager to manager of a single store, which was granted. According to the lawsuit, she became pregnant in 2012 and was instructed to restrict her working hours to no more than five hours per day. She was terminated approximately two weeks later for allowing a customer to help lift heavy boxes.

“Pantry’s reasons for terminating Plaintiff’s employment are pretextual and, the real reason that Pantry terminated Plaintiff’s employment is because she was pregnant and about to go on an extended maternity leave,” the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff is asking for an award of damages for back pay, damages for emotional distress and trauma, attorney’s fees and court costs.

Bouey is represented by Covington attorney David R. Paddison.

U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:13-cv-05439