Crista Flenner-Esparza has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. The complaint was filed on September 30, 2024, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, naming Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP as the defendant.
The case centers around Flenner-Esparza's allegations that her employment was terminated unlawfully due to her medical condition and disabilities. She claims that she faced discrimination and retaliation after requesting reasonable accommodations for her medical conditions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). According to the complaint, Flenner-Esparza began experiencing severe fatigue in May 2023 and subsequently took medical leave. Her condition was later diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia requiring surgery. Despite providing documentation from her physician and requesting additional leave for recovery, she alleges that her employer denied these requests citing "business needs" and ultimately terminated her employment in November 2023.
Flenner-Esparza argues that the actions taken by Fragomen were not only discriminatory but also retaliatory in nature. She asserts that the firm failed to engage in an interactive process to accommodate her disabilities or provide reasonable accommodations as required by law. The complaint further accuses Fragomen of breaching an implied contract not to terminate employment without good cause and failing to prevent discrimination and retaliation within the workplace.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Flenner-Esparza is asking for various forms of relief including economic damages for lost wages and benefits, non-economic damages for emotional distress, punitive damages due to alleged malice or fraud by the defendants, pre-judgment interest on damages awarded, attorneys' fees, costs of suit, declaratory relief, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Crista Flenner-Esparza are attorneys Jonathan M. Genish, Leo Livshits, and Noriya Bragg from Blackstone Law APC. The case is being overseen by Judge Sahar Enayati with Case ID: not specified.