Antonia Verde Ugalde has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against Syngenta Flowers, LLC and ASINC., alleging multiple violations of employment laws. The complaint was lodged in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, on October 9, 2024. Ugalde accuses her former employers of discrimination, wrongful termination, and retaliation related to her disability and medical leave.
The plaintiff, Antonia Verde Ugalde, contends that during her employment from March 2022 to May 6, 2024, she experienced severe discrimination due to a medical condition that rendered her disabled. She claims that after undergoing two surgeries in April 2024 and extending her medical leave through June 5, 2024, she was abruptly terminated by Syngenta Flowers upon receiving her doctor's note. Ugalde asserts that she was not informed about her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), which led to further violations of these acts by the defendants.
The lawsuit details various allegations against Syngenta Flowers and ASINC., including violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) for disability discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodations, failure to engage in an interactive process with Ugalde regarding her disability needs, retaliation for taking medical leave under CFRA, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Furthermore, Ugalde accuses the defendants of violating the California Whistleblower Protection Act by retaliating against her for disclosing information she believed violated state or federal statutes.
Ugalde is seeking compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits due to wrongful termination. She also demands punitive damages for emotional distress caused by the alleged discriminatory actions. Additionally, she requests attorney fees and costs incurred during legal proceedings. The plaintiff aims for injunctive relief to prevent future violations by the defendants and a declaration from the court recognizing their illegal practices.
Representing Antonia Verde Ugalde are attorneys Azad M. Marvazy and Brea Violette from Light Law Group APC. The case is being reviewed by Judge J. Nguyen under Case ID: 24CV449208.