LOS ANGELES (CNS) - An ex-housekeeper for former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and his daughter is suing the pair, alleging she was wrongfully fired in 2020 after she injured her right knee and took an extended leave to heal.
Dyna Bettania Nicasio's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations against Riordan, his daughter, Kathleen Riordan, and his company, Sweet Bristol Productions, include wrongful termination, disability discrimination, retaliation and failure to provide reasonable accommodations.
Nicasio seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit filed Friday. A representative for the Riordans could not be immediately reached.
Nicasio was hired in 2000 and her responsibilities included shopping, cleaning and making and answering calls, the suit states. She also was an assistant to Kathleen Riordan, who controlled her work schedule and assignments, the suit states. Nicasio's husband worked at the home as a handyman, the suit states.
Nicasio developed significant right knee pain in January 2020 from constantly working on her feet and frequently going up and down stairs, so she went on an extended medical leave, the suit states. Both Nicasio and her husband, who continued to work at the home, kept Kathleen Riordan up to date her knee and provided doctor's notes, the suit states.
However, after Nicasio's husband handed one such doctor's note toKathleen Riordan in April, she told him that his wife would not be allowed to return to work, according to the suit.
Last May 5, Kathleen Riordan sent Nicasio a letter stating she was being fired for “no show/no call, lack of shift flexibility and no longer able to fulfill job duties,'' the suit states.
Nicasio was left “embarrassed, ashamed, emotionally hurt and in financial desperation'' after losing her job and believes she was actually fired for getting hurt and then asking for accommodations for her injury, the suit states.
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