ORLANDO — A barista is suing an Orlando hotel, alleging handicap discrimination and retaliation.
Shana Ferdinand filed a complaint Aug. 1 in Orange County Circuit Court against Park Hotels & Resort Inc., formerly known as Hilton Worldwide Inc., alleging violation of the 1992 Florida Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, beginning in May 2016, Ferdinand was a barista for Park Hotels and Resort, working with a disability that qualifies as a handicap.
In October 2016, Ferdinand says she requested that she be permitted to take time off due to complications with her disability/handicap. However, she alleges the defendant refused to engage in an interactive discussion regarding her request for accommodation and eventually denied it.
The plaintiff alleges Park Hotels & Resort unreasonably refused to accommodate her disability/handicap and began taking disciplinary action in retaliation for her request for accommodation.
Ferdinand seeks trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages of more than $15,000, prejudgment interest, all costs, attorney fees and all just and equitable relief. She is represented by attorney Christopher J. Saba of Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, PA in Tampa.
Orange County Circuit Court case number 18CA008336