*

FILED BY ' D.c,

OEZ 132222

ANGELAE.NOBLE

CLERKU.S.DISX C'E

s.D.oFFIm .-F'rLLAUD.

IN TIIE cm cul'r COURT OF THE 17th

Jtm lctu cm ctqT,IN AND FoR

BR OW A RD c otm 'rY

CASE NO.

DAPH NE EDW ARDS,

Plaintiff,

Vs.

FISERV,INC-,aforeign

corporation,

D efendant.

CO M PLAINT

PlaintiflDaphneEdwards,herebySlesthisComplaintagainsttheDefendant,Fiserv,Inc.,

andasgrounds,insupportofherclaim s,thePlaintiffstates,asfollows:

1.

NATURE OF THE CLM M S

1. ThisisanactionagainsttheDefendantemployer,Fiserv,Inc.,toredressthedepdvationof

rightssecuredtoPlaintiftlbytheFloridaCivilRightsActof1992(:KFCRA''),Fla.Sàt.

Section760.01,etseq.

lI.

STATW ORY PREREOUISITESTO SUIT

2. ThePlaintiffhasexhausted heradministrativeremediesand shehascomplied with a11

statutoryprerequisites,tomaintaintheclaim sasserted herein,msrequiredbytheFCRA.

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Furthermore,thePlaintiF hasperformeda11condiuonsprecedenttomaintainingtheclaims

assertedherein,asmandatedbytheFCRA.

111.

JURISDICTION.VENIJE AND THE PARTIES

3.Thisisatlactionfordamages,inexcessofthirtythousanddollars($30,000.00),exclusive

ofinterestandcosts.

4. The alleged unlawfulactsofthe Defendant,underlying the Plaintiff'sdiscrimination

claims,arosewithinthejudsdictionoftheSeventeenthJudicialCircuit,inandforBroward

County,Flotida.

PlaintifflDaphneEdwards,(tCEDWARDS'')wasformerlyemployedby theDefendant,

Fiserv,Inc,inCoralSptings,BrowardCounty,Flodda,asaBusinessConsultant.

6. Defendant,Fiserv,Inc.CTISERV'')isaforeigncorporation,authorizedtodobusinessin

the StateofFlorida,whereitisengaged in the Gnancialserdcesindustry,pdncipally

engagedintheprocessingofcreditcardtransactions.

IV.

GENEM L ALLEGATIONS

Plaintil EDW ARDS,isablackfemaleofJamaicanorigin,sheisamemberofaprotected

class,baseduponherraceandnationalorigin,andhence,sheissubjecttothestamtory

protectionsoftheFCItA.I

lThisComplaintwaspreparedwiththeassistanceofcotmsel.However,Plaintiffisproceeding

Fr0 Se.

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8. Ata11materialtimeshere,thePlaintiffwasan employee ofthe Defendantawithin the

meaningoftheFCRA,andasanemployeeoftheDefendant,forthepurposesoftheFCRA,

andhence,thePlaintiffwasprotected againstworkplacediscrim ination,on thebasisof

race and nationalorigin,with respectto the terms,conditions,and privileges ofher

emplom ent.

9. Atal1matelialtimeshereto,theDefendantwasan employer,within themeaning ofhe

FCRA,Defendant,andassuch,theDefendantwasprohibitedfrom discrim inatlgagainst

thePlaintiff,onthebasisofrace,andnationalorigin,withrespectterms,conditions,and

privilegesofheremployment.

10.Plaintiffs employmentof approximately seven (7)years,was continued with the

Defendnntforapproximatelyten(10)months,9om July 1,2020,toApril26,2021,and

duringtlw term ofheremploymentwiththeDefendant,Plaintiffsuccessfullyperformed

thedutiesofaBusinessConsulfnnt,onbehalfoftheDefendant,inCoralSplings,Broward

Cotmty,Florida.

11.Ata11materialtimeshereto,theDefendantwasaperson,withinthemeaningoftheFCRA,

Fla.Stat.760.0246),employingfifteenormoreemployees,foreachworkingday,ineach

oftwentyormorecalendnrweeks,inthecurentprecedingcalendaryear.

12.'I'heDefendantwasan employer,within the meaning ofthe FCRA,Fla.Stat.Section

760.02(7).

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W .

SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS

l3.PlaintiffsuccessfullyperformedthedutiesofaBusinessConsultantfortheDefendant,for

aperiodofapproximatelyten(10)months.

14.The Defendant,by tle actions oftheiremployee and representative,Allison M ellon

CtM ELLON''),Plaintiffwasunfortmately subjected to repeated acts of workplace

discrim ination,basedonherraceandnationalorigin,namely,

(a)Plaintiffwasdismissively deniedtimeofffrom work,whereas,in contrast,other

membersoftheBusinessConsultD tTeam,werereadilygrantedtimeofffrom work;

(b)Plaintiffwmsnotallowedtoselectaworkshift,whereas,incontrast,othermembersof

theBusinessConsultantTeam,couldchoosetheirstarttimeandendtime,basedona

numberofoptions;

(c)Plaintiffwasattimeshighlightedastlcode-red''onreports,allegedlyfordefkientsales

numbers,however,theallegationswerefalse,whereas,incontrast,othermembersof

theBusinessConsultantTeam ,werenotaccused ofpedbrmancedeficiencies,when

theemployeeinfactwasperformingaccordingtomanagement'sexpectations;

(d)Plaintiffsuffered ongoing lnanciallossdueto routine discriminatory actionsof

Defendantinre-directingrevenueawayfrom Plaintif.OnM arch8tb, 2021,hljustone

day,Defendantre-directedEightpseven(87)currentsalesoppoM nitiesbeingworked

bythePlaintiF in adherencetoestablished SLA guidelines,and distributedtheseto

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others.Defendantrefusedtocorrectheractionts),evenwhenrequestedinwritingby

oneoftherecipientstorettmzsalerevenuetoPlaintiff.

(e)Between Febnzary 2021to Aprilof2021,substantialrevenue oppommitieswere

reassignedandtakenawayfrom thePlainti/ whereas,incontrast,othermembersof

theBusinessConsultantTeam,werenotsubjectedtosuchapractice;and

(9 DefendantroutinelyandintentionallyplacedPlaintiff'snameatthebottom ofvarious

salesreportsto givethefalse impression thatshe wasdeficientin m aking sales',

whereas,in contrast,othermembers ofthe Business ConsultantTeam,were not

subjectedtothispersonnelaction',

(g)Plaintiffwasmadetofeeluncomfortable,çlessthan''andKtless-valued''onnumerous

occmsions,dueto language used by Defendantin 1:1meeting and connectsduring

PlaintiY s employmenton the Defendant's team.Plaintiff remained professional,

coM eous,andpoliteduringallinteractionswithDefendant.

15.PriortoM onday,April26,2021,thePlaintiffmaderequestts)viatelephonemessagessent

toseniorleadersllip'sassistant,andtoLesliePearce,SeniorVicePresidentoflnsideSales,

and M ELLON became awareofPlahltiff'sinternalrequestto havem eetingwithupper

raanagenlent.

16.OnM onday,April26,2021,thePlaintiffwassummadlyternlinatedfrom heremployment,

withoutanybusinessjustifkationandorreason,andmoreover,thereisacausalconnection

between the request for meeting to voice the complairlt,stating disparate treatment

discriminationandtlleterminationofthePlaintil from heremploymentonApril26y2021.

5

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17.Plaintiffwasneversubjectcdtoanyperformancemanagementactivityatanytimedlxring

heremploymentwithDefendant.Plaintiffwent9om aonehundredpercent(100%)clean

recordatoimmediatedismissalandtermination9om herjobonApril26,2021.

18.A meeting hadbeen requestedby thePlaintifftospeak with seniorleadership,namely,

LesliePearce,SeniorVicePresidentoflnsideSales,howeverbeforethemeetingconvened,

andpriortotheschedtlledmeeting,thePlaintiffwas'unlawfullyandsllmm arilyterminated

9om heremployment.

COUNT I

(DISPARATE TREATM ENT,BASED ON M CEDISCRIMD ATION IN

VIOLATION OFTHEFCRA)

19.The Plaintiffrestatesand reaversto allegationsas setforth in Paragraphs 1-18ofthe

Complaintasiffullysetforthherein.

20.DulingheremploymentwiththeDefendant,Plaintiffpossessedtheskillsandprofessional

background,necessarytoperform herjobdutiesasaBusinessConsultant;andassucho

PlaintiffwmsqualifiedforthepositionofBusinessConsultant.

21.DuzingheremploymentwiththeDefendant,Plaintiffwasahighachiever,Plaintiffcatried

outherdutiesandftmctionsasinstructedtodo,andasperguidancereceived,Plaintiffwms

neverplacedonanyperformancemanagementactivity,Plaintiffm aintainedacleanrecord

throughoutheremploymentwiththeDefendant.

22.Dtlringheremployment,theDefendan:throughitsagent,M ELLON,treatedthePlaintiff

differentlyandlessfavorablyfrom similarlysituated employeesoutsideofherprotected

6

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class,the(lisparatetreae entofthePlaintiffincluded,butwasnotlimitcdto,thepersozmel

actionstakenbytheDefendant,inParagraphs14(a)-(g),above.

23.These discriminatory actions ofthe Defendant,againstthePlaintiff,when considered

collectively,constituteanadverseemploymentaction,forpurposesoftheFCRA

24.1.nsubjectingthePlaintifftothisadverseemploymentactions,thesepersonalactions,taken

together,were undertaken,on the basis of the Plaintiffs race,and the Defendant

ltentionallydiscriminatedagainstthePlaintif,onthebasisofherrace,morespecitkally,

thePlaintiffsraceconstittzted amotivating factorintheimplementation oftheadverse

employmentactions.

25.InsubjectingthePlaintifftoadverseemploymentaction,thePlahtiffstattzsasanemployee

wasaltered,andthetel'm sconditions,compensationandorprivilegesofemployment,were

unlawfullychangedinviolationoftheFCIRA.

26.As a proximate result ofthe afbrementioned,intentionaldiscriminatory acts of the

Defendant,thePlaintiffhassuffered damages,including,butnotlimited to economic

losses, employment benelts,emotionalpain,suffering mentalanguish,the loss of

enjoymentoflifeanddignityitljury;andreasonablecosts,includlgatomey'sfees,in

ptlrsuingthisredressforthedeprivationofPlaintift'scivilrights.

27.Theclaim fordisparatekeatm ent,onthebasisofrace,isassertedagainsttheDefendant,

pursuanttotlleFCRA,Fla.Stat.760.01,etseq.

28.By and through the acts alleged,Defendant intentionally discriminated againstthe

Plaintil throughtheDefendant'semployeesandoragents,establishesaclaim orcauseof

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action forrace discrimination,underthe FCRA,more specifically,the FCRA forbids

discrim inationagainstanyemployee,onthebasisofraceandorcolor,withrespecttothe

terms,conditionsandorpdvilegesofemployment

29.lfthePlaintiffprevailsonherFCIRA claims,resultinginthevindicationofhercivilrights,

thenthePlaintiffisentitledtoreasonableaftorney'sfeesundertheFCE.A

W HEREFORE,PlaintiffpraysthisCourttograntthefollowingrelief:anorderdeclaring

thatthe Defendantviolated the Plaintiff'srightsunderthe FCRA;an ordergranting

conApensatory danlages,for emotional pain and suffering,mental anguish,loss of

enjoynwntoflife,dignityinjuryandothernon-pecuniarylosses,anordergrantingback

pay,includingtheeconomicvalueoflostemploym entbenefksandinterestontheback

pay,an orderforfrontpay and interestonfrontpay,orforreinstatementinlieu offront

pay,anorderforreasonableattorney'sfeesandcosts,punitivedamages,anorderenjoining

theDefendantfrom engaginginanysuchunlawfvlemploym entpracticetmdertheFCRA,

and forany otherfurtheraflirmative reliet orequitable reliefasthe Courtdeems

appropriate,andforotherfurtherreliefastheCourtdeemstobejustandproper.

cotw 'r11

((olsPAuATE TREATM ENT,BAsEo oN NATIONAL om Gtx

m scm M m ATloN,IN U OLATION OFTHE FCRA)

30.PlaintiffrestatesandreaverstheallegationcontainedinParagraphs1-l8oftheComplaint,

asiffullysetforthherein.

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31.Dzzringheremploymentw1t11theDefendant,Plainéffpossessedthesldllsandprofessional

background,necessarytoperform herjobdutiesasaBusinessConsultant;andassuch,

PlaintiffwasqualifiedforthepositionofBusinessConsultant.

32.Dtlringheremployment,theDefendantathroughitsagent,M ELLON,keatedthePlaintiff

differentlyandlessfavorably9om similarly sitlntedemployeesoutsideofherprotected

class,thedisparatetreatm entofthePlaintiffincluded,butwasnotlimitedto,thepersonnel

actionstakenbytheDefendant,inParagraphs14(a)-(g),above.

33.These discriminatory actionsofthe Defendant,againstthe Plaintiff,when comsidered

collectively,constituteanadverseemploymentaction,forpurposesoftheFCRA

34.InsubjectingthePlaintifftothisadverseemploymentactions,theseactionstakentogether,

were undertaken,on the basis of the Plaintitrs national origin,and the Defendarlt

intentionally discriminatedagainstthePlaintiffon thebasisofhernationalorigin,more

specitkally, the Plaintiff's national origi? constituted a motivating factor in the

implementationoftheadverseemploym entactions.

35.InsubjectingthePlaintifftoadverseemploymentactionsthePlaintiffstatusasanemployee

wasaltered,andthetermsconditions,compensationandorprivilegesofemploymentawere

unlawfullychangedinviolationoftheFCM .

36.As a proximate resultofthe aforementioned,intentional discriminatory acts of the

Defendant,thePlaintiffhas suffered damages,including,butnotlimited to economic

losses, employment benefits,emotional pain,suffering mental anguish,the loss of

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enjoymentoflifeanddignityinjury;andreasonablecosts,includingattorney'sfees,in

pursuingthisredressforthedeprivationofPlaintifcscivilrights.

37.Theclaim fordisparatetreatment,on thebasisofnationalorigin,isasserted againstthe

Defenflnnt,pursuanttotheFCRA,Fla.Stat.760.01,etseq.

38.By and through the acts alleget Defendantintentionally discriminated againstthe

Plainti/ throughtheDefendant'semployeesandoragents,establishesaclaim orcauseof

action forrace discrimination,undertheFCRA,more specifically,the FCRA forbids

discriminationagaitlstany employeeonthebasisofraceand orcolorwithrespecttothe

terms,conditionsandorprivilegesofemployment

39.lfthePlaintiffprevailsonherFCIG claimq,resultingintheWndicationofhercivilrights,

thenthePlaintiffisentitledtoreasonableattorney'sfeesundertheFCRA

W HEREFORE,PlaintiffpraysthisCourttograntthefollowingr4elief:anorderdeclaring

thatthe Defendantviolated thePlaintim srights under theFCRA;an ordergranting

compensatory damages, for emotionalpain and suffering,m ental anguish,loss of

enjoymentoflife,dignityinjuryandothernon-pecuniazy losses,anordergrantingback

pay,including theeconomicvalueoflostemploymentbenefitsandinterestontheback

pay,an orderforâontpay and intereston frontpay,orforreinstatementinlieu offront

pay,anorderforreasonableattorney'sfeesandcosts,pmitivedamages,anorderenjoining

theDefendantfrom engagingitlanysuchunlawfulemploymentpracticeundertheFCRA.,

and forany otherfurtheraftirmativereliet orequitable reliefasthe Courtdeems

appropriate,andforotherflldherreliefastheCourtdeemstobejustandproper.

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COUNT III

(RETALIATION,IN W OLATION OF THEFCRA)

35.PlaintiffrestatesandreaverstheallegationcontahedinPazagraphs1-18oftheComplaint,

msiffullysetforthherein.

36.The FCRA prohibits employers such as the Defendant, from taking any adverse

employmentaction,againstemployees,in retaliation fortheirengaging in statutorily

protectedactivity,underthisshtute.

37.AsanemployeeoftheDefendant,thePlaintiffwasprotectedagainstreGliatoryadverse

employmentactions,forengaginginstamtot-ilyprotectedactivityundertheFCRA.

38.M ore specifically,Plaintiffwasprotected againstany retaliatory personnelaction,for

opposinganypracticeoftheDefendant,madetmlawfullmdertheFCRA.

39.Ftlrthermore,the Plaintiffwasprotected againstretaliatiow for opposing employment

decisions,whichwerebasedonraceandornationalorigin.

40.Priorto April26,2021,Plaintiffhad engaged in protected activity when shemadean

intem alrequesttospeakwithLesliePearce,SeniorVicePresidentofInsideSales,about

thediscrim inntionshesuffered,andalthoughameetingwiththeSeniorVicePresidentwas

lzrgentlyrequested,and had notyettakenplace,Plahltiffw asveryhastily term inated 9om

herposition onApril26,2021.

41.Plaintiff had a reasonable,good faith belief,that she was opposing discriminatory

employmentpractices,whichwerebeingimplementedbytleDefendant.

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42.In responsetoPlaintiœ sstatutorilyprotected activity,thePlaintiffwastenninated9om

heremploymentwith theDefendant,thetermination wmsaclearactofreprisal,and it

adverselyaffectedPlaintif'sstatusasanemployee.

43 ThelossofPlaintiffsemployment,alultimateemploymentdecision,perpetratedbythe

Defendnnt,thisdecisionadversely affectedthePlaintifFsstatusasan employee,andthe

retaliatory actwasreasonablylikelytodeterotheremployeesfrom engaging inprotected

activity,andassuchtheultimateterminationdecisionwasanadverseemploym entaction,

undertheFCIIA

44.Defendant,through itsagentsandoremployeeswasawareofthePlaintiœ sstatutorily

protected activity,whenthedismissalfrom employm entwasimplemented,specifically,

thePlaintiffwmssubjectedtoanadverseemploymentaction aftershehadengaged in

statutorilyprotectedactivity.

45.The adverse employm entacdon wasundertaken because ofthe Plaintiff's statutorily

protectedactivity,morespecificallyPlaintim sstatutorilyprotectedactivitywasthecause

oftheadverseemploymentaction.

46.lnikingthisadverseemploymentactionagainstthePlailtiff becauseofherstatutorily

protected activity,the Defendantintenuonally discrilninated againstthePlaintiffwith

respectto compensation,terms,conditionsand or the privileges ofheremployment,

includingthelossofheremployment.

47.By and through the actsalleged,theDefendantintentionally discriminated againstthe

Plaintiffforengagingin statutorilyprotectedactivityundertheFCRA.

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48.Theclnim forretaliationismssertedagainsttheDefendantpm suanttotheFCRA,Fla.Stat.

Section760.01,efseq.

49.Byandthroughtheactsalleged,theDefendanthasintentionallydiscriminatedagainstthe

PlaintiffforengaginghlstatutorilyprotectedactivityundertheFCRA.

50.The aforementioned discriminatory act of the Defendant,the ultimate employment

decision,termination,wasundertaken in responsetoPlaintiY sintem alrequesttospeak

withseniorleadership,becauseofthediscrimination.

51.Asaproximate causeofthe aforementioned intentionaland discriminatory actsofthe

Defendant,through its employees and or agents,the PlaintiF hassuffered dam ages,

including thelossofbackpay,andtheassociated beneltsofherprioremploymentwith

the Defendant,as well ms compensatory

suffering.

damages for menGlanguish and pain and

52.TheFCRA prohibitsemployers9om takinganyadverseemploymentagainstanemployee

inretaliationforengaginginstatutorilyprotectedactivity.

53.IfthePlaintiffprevailsonherFCIIA claim,resultinginthevindicationofhercivilrights,

then thePlaintiffisentitledtoreasonableattorney'sfees,pursuanttotheFCRA.

M EREFO RE,Plaintiffpl-aysthisCourttograntthefollowingrelief:anorderdeclaring

thatthe Defendantviolated the Plaintiœ srightsunder the FCRAJ an ordergranting

compensatory damages,for em otionalpain and suffering,m ental anguish,loss of

enjoymentoflife,dignityinjuryandothernon-pecuniarylosses,anordergrantingback

pay,includingtheeconomicvalueoflostemploymentbeneftsandinterestontheback

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pay,an orderforâontpay and intereston âontpay,orforreinstatementinlieu offront

pay,anorderforreasonableatomey'sfeesandcosts,punitivedamages,anorderenjoining

theDefendantfrom engaginginanysuchunlawfulemplom entpracticetmdertheFCM ,

atld forany otherfurtheraffmnative relief orequitable reliefasthe Courtdeems

appropriate,andforotherfilrtherreliefastheCourtdeemstobejustandproper.

Dem andfnrJurvTrial

Plaintiffdemandstrialbyjtuyofa11actionssotriable.

Res e 1lysubmited,

/

Da h e wards, o se

4860DocksideDrive,AptD

CoconutCreek,F133063

Telephone:954-856-0333.

?

Datedonthis1 ayofDecember,2022.

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