NEW ORLEANS - A former Milling, Benson, Woodward LLP attorney sued the law firm in the Orleans Parish District court for allegedly discriminating against her for choosing to have children.
Plaintiff Jenna Fugarino was hired in January 2019 by the defendant to work as an attorney, where she worked under the authority of Normand Pizza, Shannon Howard-Eldridge and Chadwick Collings.
Fugarino says that her superiors asked her in her interview for the job if she planned to have children and that it would be best if she didn't have children if hired.
The plaintiff discovered she was pregnant and informed her superiors in March 2019, and was allegedly subjected to pregnancy- and gender-based discrimination and harassment, including remarks about her breasts and weight.
Further, Fugarino was allegedly denied the maternity leave she was lawfully entitled to. She was ultimately fired due to her decision to have children, the lawsuit says.
The plaintiff is represented by Jill L. Craft Attorney at Law LLC of Baton Rouge. The defendant removed the case to New Orleans federal court on March 24.