LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, JACKSONVILLE

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled with a Jacksonville aviation company for $125,000 after the federal agency sued the firm, claiming it fired a worker because of her pregnancy.

In 2015 and 2016, Jasmine Pates, then in her 20s, cleaned aircraft parts at M2 Services Corp. in Jacksonville. The work potentially exposed her to hazardous materials. Pates claimed that, when she informed M2 of her pregnancy, she was put on unpaid leave. Pates submitted documents saying she was not disabled and could work. The lawsuit alleged M2 told Pates that she failed to return the necessary paperwork and then terminated her employment.

The defense denied the allegations. The parties settled for $125,000 prior to trial, and M2 agreed to create a pregnancy nondiscrimination policy.

Case: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. The Day & Zimmermann Group

Case No.: 3:19-cv-00127

Plaintiffs attorneys: Robert L. Adler, Kimberly A. Cruz and Robert E. Weisberg, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Miami; Leonard S. Magid, Magid & Williams, Jacksonville

Defense attorneys: Daniel K. Miles, Tampa, and Michael G. Prendergast, Jacksonville, FordHarrison