A California woman has filed a lawsuit against her former employers, alleging multiple violations of labor and employment laws. Cecilia Griffin, represented by attorney John P. Briscoe of Mayall Hurley P.C., filed the complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento on August 19, 2025, targeting Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc. and Elk Grove Unified School District.
The case centers around Griffin’s allegations of disability discrimination and wrongful termination. According to the complaint, Griffin was employed as a paraeducator working with autistic children at Robert J. McGarvey Elementary School in Rancho Cordova, California—a position she obtained through Amergis Healthcare Staffing in October 2024. However, Griffin faced significant health challenges starting in 2022 when she began experiencing fecal incontinence alongside other medical conditions such as anemia and type I diabetes. To manage her condition, she underwent surgery to implant a sacral nerve generator on May 13 and May 27, 2025.
Griffin asserts that she informed Amergis about her medical leave well in advance and provided necessary documentation from her physician confirming her inability to work during recovery until June 9, 2025. Despite this communication, on May 23, 2025, Ashley Shultz from Amergis informed Griffin that Elk Grove Unified School District had decided to terminate her employment due to the need for immediate staffing.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of failing to accommodate Griffin’s known disabilities and not engaging in an interactive process to explore reasonable accommodations—actions required under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Additionally, Griffin claims she was denied proper rest periods during her employment and did not receive accurate wage statements or full payment upon termination.
Griffin is seeking compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress caused by the alleged discrimination and retaliation. She also demands punitive damages against Amergis for what she describes as malicious conduct intended to harm her professionally. Furthermore, Griffin requests injunctive relief requiring the defendants to cease discriminatory practices and implement effective policies against workplace discrimination.
The case highlights significant issues regarding employer responsibilities under California’s labor laws concerning disability accommodation and employee rights during medical leave. The outcome could set precedents affecting how temporary staffing agencies handle similar situations involving joint employment with public institutions like school districts.
Attorney John P. Briscoe represents Cecilia Griffin in this legal battle while no specific defense counsel has been identified for Amergis Healthcare Staffing or Elk Grove Unified School District within the documents reviewed thus far. The case is filed under Case No.: 2arl OTe YS before an unspecified judge at Sacramento County Superior Court.
Source: 25CV019625_Cecilia_Griffin_v_Amergris_Healthcare_Complaint_County_of_Sacramento.pdf
Source: 25CV019625_Cecilia_Griffin_v_Amergris_Healthcare_Complaint_County_of_Sacramento.pdf
Source: 25CV019625_Cecilia_Griffin_v_Amergris_Healthcare_Complaint_County_of_Sacramento.pdf
