A former employee filed a lawsuit against a San Diego-based Coast Surgery Center, alleging wrongful termination.
Here are four things to know:
1. The plaintiff, Sheila Gunst, was an employee at the surgery center when her husband had surgery there that left him in a coma. Ms. Gunst took leave under the California Family Rights Act to care for her husband.
2. While caring for her husband, Ms. Gunst maintains she was told her job would be available when she returned to work. Her husband died in February 2014 after five months in a coma and she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the center. In the meantime, the ASC set a March 1, 2014 return date for Ms. Gunst.
3. Ms. Gunst opted to exercise her disability leave to the fullest extent, which would have exceeded the March 1 target, and claims her supervisor told her to quit or resign. She was terminated on April 4, 2014.
4. Ms. Gunst filed a wrongful termination suit against the surgery center and the trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 1.
More articles on surgery centers:
2 Houston ASCs complete sale: 5 things to know
CMS proposes 1.9% increase in 2018 ASC pay, adding total joint replacements: 5 insights
Why a Wisonsin ASCC is marketing north of the border—4 key notes