NEW ORLEANS – A St. John the Baptist Parish woman says her former employer, River Oaks Hospital, fired her after she asked to use a walking cane at work.
Joycelyn W. Mitchell filed a lawsuit Nov. 16 in the U.S. Distric Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Universal Health Services Inc., doing business as River Oaks Hospital, citing age and racial discrimination.
According to the complaint, after Mitchell underwent foot surgery in January 2014, her doctor told her to use a cane for walking assistance. The suit says her supervisors at River Oaks said the cane could pose a danger to hospital patients. When Mitchell, a black woman older than 40, repeatedly asked managers why three other white employees were allowed to use canes, she was terminated, the claim states.
Mitchell seeks a jury trial, punitive and compensatory damages, litigation costs and interest. She is represented by Kenner attorney Marion D. Floyd of the Law Office of Marion D. Floyd.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-05963