Marilou V. Legaspi filed the complaint against Neo Fashion Inc. for “employment discrimination based on national origin, pregnancy, and other impermissible grounds”.
Legaspi, with the assistance of attorney Stephen C. Woodruff, is asking the court to award her punitive damages and lost earnings according to law, an award of expectation, incidental, consequential and punitive damages; reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, and other relief as the court deems proper.
Legaspi said she filed a complaint of discrimination against the defendant with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on May 2, 2007 for unlawful employment practices. She said that on Aug. 15, 2008, the EEOC issued a notice of right to sue the defendants.
The plaintiff said she was employed by the defendant as a packer in Aug. 2006 until her employment was terminated on Apr. 3, 2007 due to non-renewal of contract.
Legaspi said that she became pregnant during her employment with the defendant.
She said when her employer became aware of her pregnancy, her employers gave her a hard time because the management wanted her to work until 9:30 p.m.
Legaspi said the company supervisor told her she was a slow worker because of her pregnancy.
She said her employer also gave her a hard time regarding her pregnancy-related expenses which are the employer’s obligations under CNMI law.
In March 2007, the defendant hired 10 new employees.
She said her employer gave her no legitimate reason for not renewing her contract and “any proffered reason for reduction of workforce is not true because her employer just hired new workers.”
Legaspi, who is from the Philippines, said her termination was caused by her pregnancy in addition to her national origin.
She said as a result of the termination of her employment, she suffered and will continue to suffer loss of earnings.
She said the defendant engaged in a conduct against her with malice and reckless disregard for her federally protected rights.
The plaintiff is filing two causes of action against the defendant — for pregnancy/sex discrimination, and for disparate treatment on termination/national origin discrimination.
