CEO Says She Was Fired for Breast Cancer

DALLAS (CN) - Discount retail chain Tuesday Morning fired its CEO because she has breast cancer, the woman says in a discrimination claim to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Kathleen Mason, 63, says the Dallas-based company fired her on June 7 after she worked for more than a decade as its president and CEO.

Her attorney, Rogge Dunn with Clouse Dunn in Dallas, told the Dallas Business Journal that board of directors had a change of attitude towards her after they learned of her diagnosis.

He said his client was paid a $500,000 bonus this year and received an amended employment contract about 2 months before she was fired.

"If she was not meeting the board's expectation, why would she get these raises and amended contracts?" Dunn asked the Business Journal.

The company rebutted the allegations in a statement.

"Ms. Mason's termination was lawful and made in conformity with the terms of her employment agreement," the company said. "che Company believes that any claims relating to her termination are without merit and intends to vigorously defend any such claims."

Tuesday Morning operates 852 stores in 43 states, selling discounted and closeout home furnishings and gifts.

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