EMT says city failed to accommodate pregnancy limitations

An EMT-paramedic claims she was unlawfully forced to take paid and unpaid leave during her pregnancy, even though her employer could have provided a “reasonable accommodation” for her limitation, in a federal lawsuit filed this month.

Plaintiff Meghan McCutcheon filed her lawsuit last month in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

McCutcheon, a resident of Denham Springs and a 12-year employee of East Baton Rouge Parish EMS, alleges defendant City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge committed an unlawful employment practice in violation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, or PWFA.

She contends the city falsely maintains it is unable to grant any light-duty accommodations to EMTs and EMT-paramedics.

“In practice, however, Defendant regularly departs from this stated policy by temporarily modifying or temporarily reassigning EMTs and EMT-Paramedics, who cannot safely perform full field duties due to medical or other limitations, to less physically demanding roles,” her 14-page co...