Former CAMC nurse assistant says firing was retaliatory

CHARLESTON - A former nurse's assistant at Charleston Area Medical Center has filed a suit against the hospital, claiming she was fired as a retaliatory action.

Rebecca A. Walker filed a suit May 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court, against CAMC. Walker was a nurse assistant for approximately seven years, the suit says. At the time she was fired, she was over the age of 40.

Walker claims in the suit that she suffers from a medical condition that qualifies her for protection from disability discrimination.

According to the lawsuit, Walker claims while employed by CAMC, she voiced her concern over the nurse to patient ratio, which she claimed was a danger to patients because it was excessively high.

She claims her concerns were ignored by hospital officials, and on Feb. 13, 2007, was fired.

Walker claims in the suit that CAMC fabricated comments against her, and falsified statements allegedly made by the employees.

The termination was a violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act, which entitles Walker to certain rewards, the suit says.

In a six-count suit, filed by attorney Michael A. Olivio, Walker seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

The case has been assigned to Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker.
by:www.wvrecord.com