A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employers, alleging severe workplace discrimination and harassment. The complaint was filed by Cassandra Strickland in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on October 2, 2024, against FL Dental, P.A., and Aspen Dental Management, Inc.
Cassandra Strickland claims that during her employment as a dental assistant starting September 28, 2023, she faced discriminatory treatment based on race, color, and national origin. She alleges that her immediate supervisor and colleagues created a hostile work environment through ongoing harassment. Specifically, Strickland accuses Dr. Fatimah Waseem of treating her differently than non-African American colleagues by using a demeaning tone and isolating her from social interactions. An incident on October 9, 2023, is highlighted where Strickland was reprimanded for taking a break while other employees were not scrutinized similarly. On October 16, Dr. Waseem allegedly made racially charged comments in front of other staff members which led to an anxiety attack for Strickland.
Strickland's attempts to report these issues to human resources on October 17 went unaddressed according to the complaint. She requested a transfer due to the hostile environment but received no support or follow-up from HR. The ongoing discrimination reportedly led to deterioration in both her mental and physical health, requiring medication for anxiety and elevated blood pressure.
The lawsuit outlines multiple counts including race discrimination, color discrimination, national origin discrimination under the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA), retaliation for reporting discriminatory practices, and creating a hostile work environment. Strickland seeks various forms of relief including back pay with benefits adjustments, compensatory damages for emotional distress and personal suffering, reinstatement or front pay in lieu of reinstatement if appropriate positions are unavailable due to the alleged discrimination.
The case highlights serious allegations against FL Dental P.A., a Florida profit corporation operating within Palm Beach County under Aspen Dental Management Inc., which oversees corporate policies including anti-discrimination measures. Both entities are accused of failing to address repeated complaints about discriminatory conduct from their managerial staff.
Representing Cassandra Strickland is attorney Peter M. Hoogerwoerd from Remer Georges-Pierre & Hoogerwoerd PLLC based in Coral Gables. The Case ID is: 502024CA009448XXXAMB Div: AO.