TAMPA - Sarasota Memorial Hospital is facing discrimination charges from a woman who says she was the subject of several rumors during her employment, according to documents filed on Feb. 17 in the Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit was filed by Jennifer Ferlicchi, who was a cardiac transport nurse.
Ferlicchi was allegedly the subject of a multitude of damaging and inaccurate rumors during her time at the hospital, including that she wrongfully accessed colleague and patient records and that she trapped married men with pregnancy and extorted them for money.
The plaintiff's personal life, including relationships and pregnancy, was allegedly inappropriately probed by superiors. Ferlicchi was also accused of starting rumors herself and harassing former coworkers, the suit says.
In November 2019, the plaintiff inquired about a different position she had applied for at Memorial Hospital. The senior nursing recruiter she spoke with allegedly told the plaintiff she was the top candidate, but four days after that conversation, Ferlicchi was told the position had been filled, after being accused of accessing another employee's chart.
The plaintiff asked for access to the computer and program to respond to the complaint but was refused, the suit says. She asked for the opportunity to show the allegations were impossible but was refused, the suit says.
Ferlicchi found out after her termination that the individual who made the complaint was the one who was given the position she applied for, the suit says.
The plaintiff is suing for one count of unlawful harassment based on sex in violation of the Florida Civil Rights Act, one count of sex harassment based on Title VII, one count of retaliation under Title VII, one count of retaliation under the Florida Civil Rights Act and one count of retaliation under the Florida Whistleblower Act. She is seeking damages for lost pay, compensatory damages and attorney's fees.
Ferlicchi is represented by Unice Salzman Jensen, PA, of Trinity.