In a dramatic legal showdown, a former employee of a well-known clinic is taking her battle to court, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation that culminated in her wrongful termination. Geni Horne filed a complaint against St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Inc., on May 2, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida.
Geni Horne's lawsuit accuses the St. Petersburg Free Clinic of violating the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 by discriminating against her based on race and retaliating after she engaged in protected activities. Horne, an African American Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), began working at the clinic on May 31, 2022, and was terminated on January 26, 2024. She claims she was the only African American APRN provider at the time of her employment commencement and one of only two at the time of her termination.
Horne alleges that shortly after starting her job, she noticed significant deficiencies in the clinic's operations regarding patient care standards and eligibility procedures. She raised these concerns with her supervisor and other management officials but was met with resistance. Her complaints included issues such as failure to verify insurance status, lack of patient identification verification, absence of proof-of-income requirements, and service expansion beyond Pinellas County.
The situation escalated when Dr. Kay Schmid informed Horne that she had "stirred the pot" by questioning patient screening processes and requesting meetings with senior executives like CEO Jennifer Yeagley and COO Shaina Bent. Despite presenting these concerns formally through emails and presentations highlighting potential legal liabilities for non-compliance with state and federal laws, Horne faced termination allegedly due to negligence in patient care—a claim she disputes.
Horne believes her dismissal was motivated by retaliatory intent due to her engagement in protected activities under Florida law. Furthermore, she argues that racial discrimination played a role in her termination since similarly situated individuals outside her protected class were treated more favorably.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 for economic losses suffered due to wrongful termination along with punitive damages for emotional distress caused by alleged discriminatory practices at St. Petersburg Free Clinic Inc., which they argue violated both Chapter 760 FLA Statutes (disparate treatment) as well as Florida Private Whistleblower Act (retaliation).
Representing Geni Horne are attorneys Jerry Girley Esq., Mert Atmaca Esq., from The Girley Law Firm PA based out Orlando FL; Case Number:25-002328-CI will be presided over within jurisdictional boundaries set forth under Article V statutes governing proceedings held before Circuit Court located within Pinellas County where this case has been filed against defendant entity identified hereinabove mentioned throughout this narrative account provided hereinabove described accordingly.