A woman claims she was fired by the Louisiana Department of Health because of her anxiety.
Sarah K. Grunblatt filed her complaint in federal court against the Louisiana Department of Health alleging she was fired due to her anxiety, which is considered a disability.
According to the complaint, Grunblatt disclosed her neurodivergent condition to LDH upon hire, which affects her ability to talk in one-on-one and group settings, answer telephone calls, follow unwritten rules and function in certain settings. After discussing her condition with supervisor Katherine Cane, Grunblatt requested reasonable accommodations such as additional time to prepare for meetings.
However, Grunblatt was terminated on June 8, 2023. She claims this termination occurred without any disciplinary notices or write-ups in her file and came a day after she sought information about reasonable accommodations.
Grunblatt claims her termination from LDH was an act of retaliation and disability discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. She began working as a Program Manager of Public Health Infrastructure at LDH on February 20, 2023, earning approximately $84,000 per year.
The lawsuit seeks punitive damages from LDH for its alleged willful and wanton conduct.