Ellen Grant, a seasoned social worker with over two decades of experience, has filed a lawsuit against her employer, alleging severe discrimination and retaliation. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on November 6, 2024, targeting the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board as the defendant.
The lawsuit unfolds a narrative of alleged systemic discrimination based on race, gender, and disability. Ellen Grant accuses her employer of violating multiple federal laws including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She claims she was paid less than her Caucasian counterparts despite holding similar or more responsibilities. The complaint states that Grant carried a disproportionately heavy caseload compared to other social workers in her district, often without prior communication or additional compensation.
Grant's allegations extend beyond pay disparities. She recounts instances where she was required to perform duties not expected of her peers, such as counseling roles typically outside her job description. Her complaints about these inequities were allegedly met with retaliation rather than resolution. In one instance, after raising concerns about unequal treatment to her supervisor Robert Schaff and HR Director Dr. Curt Green, she faced further adverse actions including denial of stipends and additional workload assignments.
The lawsuit also details an incident in March 2022 when Grant sustained serious injuries during an altercation between students at work, leading to multiple surgeries and significant time off work. Despite this, she claims her leave was incorrectly coded by payroll officials which affected her salary and benefits negatively—a move she believes was retaliatory following her complaints about workplace discrimination.
In seeking justice through this legal action, Ellen Grant is requesting various forms of relief from the court. She seeks compensatory damages for mental anguish and emotional distress caused by the alleged discriminatory practices. Additionally, she demands back pay for lost earnings due to incorrect leave coding and reduced benefits during her medical leave period. Furthermore, punitive damages are sought against the school board for their purported malicious conduct alongside injunctive relief to prevent future occurrences of such discriminatory acts within the organization.
Representing Ellen Grant is attorney Stephanie Dovalina from New Orleans-based Dovalina Law Group LLC. The case has been assigned Case ID 2:24-cv-02616 but no judge has been named yet.