A prominent medical professional has taken legal action against a major university, alleging severe workplace discrimination and retaliation. Dr. Jennifer Woerner filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana on September 19, 2024, against the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Dr. Woerner, who holds both a Doctorate in Dental Medicine and a Doctorate in Medicine, was employed by the Board as tenured faculty at LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport (LSUHSC-S). She claims that her termination on June 27, 2022, was an act of retaliation following her previous lawsuit against the university for similar reasons. According to the complaint, Dr. Woerner had previously sued the university in 2021 for retaliation linked to her protected conduct under Title IX and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This initial lawsuit led to her being placed on administrative leave and subjected to various discriminatory actions upon her return.
The complaint details how Dr. Woerner's professional environment became increasingly hostile after she amended her initial lawsuit on June 9, 2022. She alleges that faculty members shunned her and made defamatory statements about her to higher authorities, including submitting letters to the Governor of Louisiana accusing her of deceit and political manipulation. These actions were allegedly orchestrated by the Interim Department Chair and other OMFS faculty members with retaliatory motives.
Dr. Woerner further claims that after expressing concerns about this hostile environment to the Interim Chancellor on June 17, 2022, she was immediately terminated instead of being allowed a standard notice period to transition out of her role smoothly. This abrupt termination severed ties with her patients and left her feeling physically threatened.
Post-termination, Dr. Woerner discovered that efforts to harm her professional reputation continued as an OMFS faculty member removed her name from an alumni list maintained by LSUHSC-S. This removal hindered potential referral sources from locating her new practice in Florida. Additionally, individuals involved in defaming her during employment accessed her business website post-termination, heightening her anxiety about ongoing retaliatory actions.
Dr. Woerner seeks compensatory damages for lost income, emotional distress, damage to professional reputation, back pay, economic injury recovery, legal fees reimbursement where applicable by statute, and prejudgment interest on any monetary compensation awarded.
Representing Dr. Woerner are attorneys Allison A. Jones and Pamela R. Jones from Downer, Jones, Marino & Wilhite L.L.C., while Judge Jerry Edwards Jr., presides over this case identified as Case No: 5:24-cv-01280.