A former Southampton Volunteer Ambulance Corporation (SVA) employee has filed a lawsuit alleging workplace discrimination. On October 28, Kayla Lebenns filed a complaint against SVA, claiming she was unlawfully terminated due to her pregnancy and gender.
Lebenns, alleges that SVA violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) by terminating her employment while she was five months pregnant. The complaint states that Lebenns began working as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with SVA on May 7, 2017, and was terminated on August 19, 2022, shortly after disclosing her pregnancy and potential need for maternity leave.
The lawsuit claims that, following her pregnancy disclosure in May 2022, Lebenns experienced hostile treatment from SVA management, including discriminatory remarks and unjustified warnings that allegedly led to her dismissal. She asserts that SVA fabricated allegations of misconduct as a pretext for her termination.
Lebenns also accuses SVA of failing to engage in an interactive process, as required under NYSHRL, to reasonably accommodate pregnant employees. She argues that if such accommodations had been provided, alleged performance issues might have been addressed. The complaint also describes an incident in which Lebenns was given an ultimatum to resign or face termination based on an unsubstantiated complaint from Dr. Fine's office.
The plaintiff is seeking relief, including back pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney fees, and restoration of her former position if feasible.
Lebenns is represented by Bell Law Group PLLC, located in Syosset, New York. The lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID: 2:24-cv-07510.