University Hospitals in Cleveland has been ordered to pay a former 56-year-old employee $900,000 in an age discrimination lawsuit after she was fired from the job she held for 30 years, according to a Plain Dealer report.
The jury of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court ruled that Gloria Parks was unduly blamed and fired for a patient mix-up at the hospital while younger counterparts were never disciplined for their involvement. The monetary award was based on Parks' earning potential had she not been fired. The jury did not consider punitive damages against the hospital.
Ms. Parks worked in the hospital's pre-admission testing department. She filed the lawsuit in 2009, claiming that her supervisor was waiting for an opportunity to fire her as he displayed favoritism to younger women and often said he wanted to "change the face of the department," according to the report.
A spokesperson from University Hospitals said the organization stands behind its decision to fire Ms. Parks and will likely appeal the jury's verdict, according to the report.
Read the Plain Dealer report on University Hospitals and age discrimination.
Read more about lawsuits involving hospitals:
- Temple University Health System Agrees to Pay $130K for Drug-Tracking Violations
- Catholic Healthcare West Pays $257K to Resolve Discrimination Allegations
- Gender Discrimination Suit Filed by Former Pennsylvania Hospital Executive Settled Out of Court
The jury of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court ruled that Gloria Parks was unduly blamed and fired for a patient mix-up at the hospital while younger counterparts were never disciplined for their involvement. The monetary award was based on Parks' earning potential had she not been fired. The jury did not consider punitive damages against the hospital.
Ms. Parks worked in the hospital's pre-admission testing department. She filed the lawsuit in 2009, claiming that her supervisor was waiting for an opportunity to fire her as he displayed favoritism to younger women and often said he wanted to "change the face of the department," according to the report.
A spokesperson from University Hospitals said the organization stands behind its decision to fire Ms. Parks and will likely appeal the jury's verdict, according to the report.
Read the Plain Dealer report on University Hospitals and age discrimination.
Read more about lawsuits involving hospitals:
- Temple University Health System Agrees to Pay $130K for Drug-Tracking Violations
- Catholic Healthcare West Pays $257K to Resolve Discrimination Allegations
- Gender Discrimination Suit Filed by Former Pennsylvania Hospital Executive Settled Out of Court