Fired for Seeking Worker’s Comp, Woman Says

SOMERVILLE, N.J. (CN) - LifeCell Corp. discriminated against and fired an employee for filing for worker's comp after she herniated a disc on the job, Joy Osawe claims in Somerset County Court. Osawe claims the harassment and firing was also because of her race and Nigerian origin.

Osawe claims managers management to exclude her from training sessions, seminars and meetings while colleagues with less experience and less seniority were allowed to attend. She claims that she trained a new hire who became unofficial head of the laboratory where she worked and eventually was promoted to manager.

Osawe claims she was "singled out for trying to learn new procedures rather than being unproductive," and cites a case where a boss told her not to wake up another technician who was sleeping at his desk. She claims the boss told her "not to disturb him; let him sleep."

Finally, she says, fired on the claim that she had issues with management. She is represented by Devero Taus of Bedminster, N.J.

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