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September 10, 2002Employee files suit against Pavilions- Woman claims she was demoted because patient complained about her raceBy PATRICK SULLIVANRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - A nurse has sued the Grand Traverse Pavilions claiming she was demoted after a patient's wife called her a "dirty Indian." A supervisor at the Pavilions demoted Bonita Williams, an American Indian, after the wife of one of her patients complained about her race, according to the suit, filed in circuit court in Grand Traverse County last week by attorney Enrico Schaefer. Schaefer argues that the complaint prompted a supervisor, Delores Couturier, to tell Williams she wanted a "new face" in the post at the facility's Alzheimer's unit and to replace her with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman. Couturier justified her action by telling Williams something to the effect of "the customer is always right," Schaefer said. Melissa Sole, director of development and community relations for the Pavilions, said she could not comment on the suit because she has not seen it yet. Williams is asking for damages over $50,000 for lost pay and for medical problems she says she suffered as a result of humiliation. The suit says Williams was asked to provide documentation for sick leave she took after her demotion in June 2001 and that she quit in anticipation of being fired. Another suit related to Williams' claim, filed a year ago by Schaefer on behalf of another Pavilions employee, settled out of court last month. Kathy Super sued over several issues, including a claim that she was fired after she complained about the quality of patient care and the alleged discrimination against Williams. Super settled her case for $75,000 and through union arbitration won more than $25,000 in back pay and reinstatement to her position. Super said she plans to return to work in October, 13 months after the suit was filed. Sole said the Pavilion's insurance company's decision to settle the suit was not an admission to any of Super's allegations. Sole said the union arbitration also included a 30-day unpaid suspension for Super. In the Pavilion's response to the suit, the facility's lawyers argued that Super was fired over a claim that she had failed to give patients eye drops despite having marked their charts that they had been given the medication. Sole said the Pavilions strives to maintain good relations with its 400 employees and has strong policies against discrimination. "We value our employees, they do a great job in providing quality care to the people we serve," she said. Schaefer said that the two suits - and others he said he plans to file against the Pavilions in the future - indicate that the health care facility's management is unwilling to confront problems. "If you're not going to acknowledged there's a problem, you're certainly not going to correct it," he said. "The discrimination is one of many serious problems we believe are facing the facility." Patrick Sullivan is the reporter for crime, courts and public safety. He can be reached at (231) 933-1478, or at psullivan@record-eagle.com |
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