SARASOTA – A surgical technician alleges she was terminated because of her allergy to latex.
Sheryl Hartman-Cannistra filed a complaint on Nov. 1 in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - Sarasota County against Sarasota Doctors Hospital Inc., doing business as Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, alleging violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Family Medical Leave Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she was employed by the defendant as a surgical technician until March 6, 2014. The plaintiff alleges she suffers from a serious latex powder allergy, which worsened as a result of her high-level of exposure to the allergens. The suit states she requested a switch of the exam gloves to those that did not contain latex powder, but instead was terminated by the defendant citing her allergy as the sole basis for termination.
The plaintiff holds Sarasota Doctors Hospital Inc., doing business as Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to accommodate plaintiff's special request to benefit her medical condition, but preferred to keep the powdered gloves because some doctors preferred them.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in her favor, damages, attorney's fees, costs and further relief as the court may deem just. She is represented by Joseph M. Herbert of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg PA in Lakewood Ranch.
12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - Sarasota County Case number 8:16-cv-03080