ORLANDO – An Orange County teacher alleges her employer failed to reasonably accommodate her disability.
Jackie Hoffmeyer filed a complaint on Sept. 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division against Orange County Public Schools alleging violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she was employed by defendant as an ESE teacher and staffing specialist. The suit states that because she suffers from fibromyalgia syndrome, she requested FMLA leave in the the form of reduced hours and intermittent leave in September 2014. The suit states that the defendant decided to transition her to a part-time position as an ADA accommodation, however, she expressed concerns regarding lower wages/benefits without reduction on her duties and workload. She states she retired in June 2015 as a result of her disability.
The plaintiff holds Orange County Public Schools responsible because the defendant allegedly interfered and denied the rights of plaintiff to avail of medical leave, failed to allow plaintiff to use accrued leave while working part time, failed to adjust her workload to accommodate plaintiff's part-time status and discriminated on plaintiff on the basis of her disability.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in her favor, back pay, compensatory damages, monetary losses, declaratory and injunctive relief and other relief the court deems just. She is represented by Joseph Egan of Egan, Lev & Siwica PA in Orlando.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division Case number 6:16-cv-01718