LOS ANGELES (CN) – After a pharmacy technician was hurt on the job, Kaiser fired her on a pretext, she claims in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

     Alma Vega sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan for disability discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination, failure to engage in the interactive process, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, wrongful termination and retaliation.

     Vega says she took a medical leave of absence and filed a workers compensation claim after a workplace injury. When Vega told Kaiser that she would soon be released to return to her regular job, Kaiser assigned her to do clerical work instead, outside her job description, in another department, according to the complaint. She was told not to clock in or clock out, given an unfair substandard performance review, and fired after three days, according to the complaint.

     “Alma Vega was fired because of her physical disability and because Kaiser Foundation knew that Alma Vega would require continuing treatment for her injury. While Alma Vega was on her medical leave of absence, Kaiser Foundation failed to engage in the interactive process with her regarding her physical disability and failed to provide her with reasonable accommodation,” the complaint states.

     Alma Vega seeks contractual, compensatory, exemplary and punitive damages, costs of suit, attorney fees, injunctive relief and a jury trial. She is represented by Eugenia Hicks of Hicks & Hicks in Beverly Hills.