A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination. Christan Cookson, the plaintiff, lodged her complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on November 20, 2024. The defendant named in the case is VT Acquisition Co., LLC.
The complaint details Cookson's employment journey with VT Acquisition Co., which began on January 16, 2024, at their call center in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cookson is not only an employee but also a professional bodybuilder and model with a significant social media following. During her tenure, she reported to Patrick Jackson and Keslyn Grant within the company hierarchy. The narrative begins with an interview conducted by Jackson on December 20, 2023, where he recognized Cookson from her bodybuilding career and expressed enthusiasm about hiring her.
The situation took a serious turn when Cookson experienced a medical emergency related to an ectopic pregnancy shortly after starting her job. On January 22, 2024, she informed Grant of a family emergency requiring immediate attention and subsequently notified Jackson via text from the hospital but received no response. After being diagnosed with a possible ectopic pregnancy and undergoing necessary medical procedures that included terminating the pregnancy for health reasons, Cookson communicated these developments to both Grant and Jackson.
Despite receiving medical advice to rest post-procedure, Cookson was eager to return to work by January 31, 2024. However, she faced challenges in accommodating ongoing medical appointments due to company policies that required advance notice for time off. In February 2024, tensions escalated when Jackson reprimanded Cookson for attendance issues despite her attempts to explain the unpredictability of her medical condition.
Cookson sought assistance from James DiGrazia, Operations Manager at VT Acquisition Co., but felt intimidated when told that any meeting would include Jackson's presence. She alleges that during these discussions about her performance and absences related to medical needs, there was little understanding or support offered by management.
The culmination of these events led to what Cookson describes as worsening treatment by Jackson until March 7, 2024. On this day, following a confrontation over alleged harassment and false accusations regarding absenteeism and tardiness—despite knowledge of her medical condition—Jackson terminated Cookson's employment publicly.
In response to these actions by VT Acquisition Co., LLC., Christan Cookson has filed this lawsuit citing pregnancy discrimination under the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA). She claims damages due to unlawful termination based on her pregnancy status—a violation of FCRA statutes—and seeks compensation for lost wages along with punitive damages for emotional distress caused by discriminatory practices.
Cookson's legal representation is spearheaded by Craig L. Berman from Berman Law PA based in St. Petersburg. The case has been assigned Case Number: 24-005097-CI under Judge Ken Burke’s jurisdiction.