INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A northwestern Indiana mental health center that operates more than a dozen emergency mental health services and substance abuse treatment facilities will pay a former employee $200,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Southlake Mental Health Center in Merrillville on behalf of Felicia Nichols after it fired her for taking a medical leave for breast cancer treatment.
The EEOC says not king a needed and reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability violates the American With Disabilities Act.
Under a consent decree settling the suit, Southlake must pay $200,000 to Nichols and her lawyers and post a non-discrimination notice at its facilities. It must also consider leave as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.
A message seeking comment was left with the center's director.
