Nurse Awarded $500K in Family Leave Act Case

A nurse has been awarded over $500,000 after a federal court jury found that her former employer violated the Family and Medical Leave Act, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune.

Connie Sue Summerlin, a Brookfield resident, began working as a nurse for Almost Family in October 2006 and in April 2010 was promoted to registered nurse case manager. In April 2010 she fell on ice outside a patient’s home and injured her hip.

She was unable to work and took family leave in July 2010. Summerlin wasn’t given permission to return to work from her doctor until February 2011 at which time her employer told her that her position had been eliminated.

According to the Connecticut Department of Labor Sec. 31-51nn, “Any eligible employee who takes leave under section 31-51ll for the intended purpose of the leave shall be entitled on return from such leave (1) to be restored by the employer to the position of employment held by the employee when the leave commenced; (2) if the original position of employment is not available, to be restored to an equivalent position with equivalent employment benefits, pay and other terms and conditions of employment; or (3) in the case of a medical leave, if the employee is medically unable to perform the employee’s original job upon the expiration of such leave, to be transferred to work suitable to such employee’s physical condition if such work is available.”

Click here to read more on the CT Law Tribune.