Doctor sued by employee who claims she was discriminated against, fired after breast cancer diagnosis

GRETNA – A medical office worker is suing her former boss who she claims wrongfully terminated her employment after she was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for breast cancer.

Nancy Van Huss filed suit against Robert D. Ross M.D., F.A.C.S., individually and as a professional medical corporation, in the 24th Judicial District Court on Oct. 6.

The plaintiff alleges that Ross hired her on May 30, 2005 to work in his medical office as a front desk transcriptionist and later promoted he to office manager on Feb. 1, 2010. Van Huss contends that in July 2013 she was diagnosed with breast cancer requiring surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatments for which she took two weeks off from work.

The plaintiff asserts that on April 1 she was told that a new office manager would be hired and she would return to her previous position as a front desk transcriptionist. Further, Van Huss claims that in July, on the same day she received authorization for reconstructive surgery, she was suspended from work for one week by the defendant and that when she returned to work she was terminated. The plaintiff alleges that she was falsely accused of being insubordinate and that her work record shows she was in fact never formally reprimanded in her nine years at the medical office.

The defendant is accused of wrongful termination and discrimination.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss of income, loss of nearing potential, loss of benefits and all costs of the proceedings.

Van Huss is represented by Thomas E. Loehn of Metairie-based Boggs, Loehn & Rodrigue.

The case has been assigned to Division B Judge Cornelius E. Regan.

Case no. 743-129.