Elizabeth Westbrook has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging disability discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. The complaint was filed on December 23, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, naming D&D Accounting Services LLC, doing business as INSA Cannabis for Real Life, as the defendant.
According to the complaint, Elizabeth Westbrook began working for D&D Accounting Services LLC on October 10, 2022. She claims that despite her exemplary work performance and positive customer reviews, she faced discrimination due to her disabilities—anxiety and severe asthma—which were known to her employer. The lawsuit alleges that after reporting unlawful employment practices by the company, Westbrook was subjected to disparate treatment and retaliatory actions by management figures including District Manager Charles Stone and Florida Human Resource Representative Ryan Darling.
Westbrook's medical conditions required several emergency room visits starting in February 2023. Although she provided necessary documentation for these absences initially accepted by her employer, she was later informed that such notes would no longer be recognized. Consequently, she had to use vacation time for medical absences and received reprimands despite submitting valid doctor’s notes. On October 5, 2023, Westbrook was terminated by Charles Stone explicitly due to her medical-related absences.
The lawsuit argues that D&D Accounting Services LLC violated the Florida Civil Rights Act and federal laws under 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., which protect employees from discrimination based on disability. Westbrook accuses the company of failing to accommodate her disabilities or engage in an interactive process to address them. Furthermore, she claims that her termination was a direct result of unlawful retaliation following her complaints about discriminatory practices.
Westbrook seeks various forms of relief from the court including compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of costs and interest. She requests injunctive relief mandating compliance with relevant laws by the defendant and punitive damages for emotional distress and economic losses suffered due to alleged unlawful acts by her former employer. Additionally, she demands attorney's fees and other appropriate reliefs such as reinstatement.
The case is represented by Marie A. Mattox from Marie A. Mattox P.A., while details about defense attorneys are not specified in the document. The case is presided over by Judge Ken Burke under Case ID: 24-005634-CI.