FILED BY-

.C,

Ml2 132023

ANGELAE.NOBLE

CLERKUS.DISTCT

s.o.oyFuk.-FT.uu.o.

IN THE UNITED STATESDISTRICT COURT

IN AND FOR THE SOIITHERN DISTRICT OF

FLOD A

CASE NO.8:22-cv-6234ë AHS

DAPHNE EDW ARDS,

Plalntiff,

VS.

W SERV,INCOaforeign

corporation,

Defendant.

/

COM PLX

PlaintiftDaphneEdwards,herebyElesthisComplaintagainsttheDefendant,Fisem Inc.,

andasgrounds,insupportofherclnims,thePlainéffstates,asfollows:

1.

NATIJRE OF TM CLAIM S

1. T1tisisanactionagainsttheDefendantemployer,Fismv,Inc.,toredressthedeprivauonof

riglltssecuredtoPlaintië bytheFloridaCivilRightsActof1992CTCRA''),Fla.Sut.

Section 760.01,etseq.DeprivationofrightssecuredtoPlaintiff,underTitleW Iofthe

CivilRightsActof1964,asamended.

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%$t

H .

STATUTORY PQEkEOUISITESTO SUIT

2. n e Plaintifrhasee austed heradminiskative rem ediesalld shehascompliedwith a1l

statutoryprerequisites,tomaintaintheclairnsassertedherein,asTequiredby theFCRA.

Fue ermore,thePlaintiK hasperformeda1lconditionsprecedenttomaintainingtheclaims

assertedherein,asmandatedbytheFCM .

111.

JIJRISDICTION.VENIJE AND TH E PARTIES

3. Thksisanactionfordamages,inexcessof - thousanddollars($30,000.00),exclusive

ofinterestandcosts.

4. ThisCourthasjurisdictionovertheallegedtmlawfulactsoftheDefendnnt,underlyingthe

Plaintiv sdiscriminstionclnims,undertheprovisionsofTitleW 1oftheCivilRigh'tsAct

of1964,asamended;andtheFCRA.n eplainte andthedefendantresidein diFerent

states.

5. Plainti/ DapbneEdwards,CEDW ARDS'')wasformerlyemployedbytheDefendant,

Fisem lnc,inCoralSprings,BrowardCounty.Florida,asaBusinessConhmltant.

6.Defendnnt,Fisem Inc.CFISERVD isaforeigncomoration,authorizedtodobusinessin

the StateofFloridw where itLsengaged in thelnancialsewicesindustry,pincipally

engagedintheprocessingofcreditcardkansactions.

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IW

GENEM L AIA,EGATIONS

PlaintiftEDWARDS,isablackfemaleofJamaicanorigiw sheisamemberofaprotected

class,baseduponherraceandnationalorigin,andhence,sheissubjecttothestatutory

protectionsoftheFCIIA-I

8. Atallmaterialtimeshere,thePlaintil wasan employeeoftheDefendantawithinthe

meaningoftheFCM ,andasanemployeeoftheDefendant,forthepuo osesoftheFCRA,

and hence,thePlaintiffwasprotected aglinqtworkplacediscriminationyon thebasisof

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

emplom ent.

9. Atallmaterialtim eshereto,theDefendantwasan employer,withinthemeaning ofhe

FCRA,Defendankandass'uchotheDefendlmtwasproMbitedâom discriminatingagainst

thePlaintiK onthebasisofrace,andnadonalOHgK withrem ectterms,conditionsaand

privilegesofheremployment.

10.Plaintim semplom entofapproximately seven (7)years,wascontinued with the

Defendnntforapproximatelyten(10)months,from July 1.2020,toApril26,2021.and

dnringtheterm ofheremploymentwi1 theDefendantyPlaintiF successfullyperformed

thedutiesofaBusinessConsultant onbehalfoftheDefendant,inCoralSprings,Broward

County,Flodda.

lThisComplaintwaspreparedw1t11thenxqiqtanceofcounsel.However,PlaintiF ism oceeding

Fm Se.

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11.Atallmaterial,tim eshereto,theDefendantwasapersom witllinthem ezmingoftheFCRA,

Fla.Stat.760.02(6),emplo/ngflfleenormoreemployees,foreachworkingday,ineach

oftwentyormorecalendc weeks,inthecurentprecedingcalendaryear.

12.TheDefendnntwasan employer,within themeaning oftheFCRA.Fla.Stat.Section

760.0247).

IW

SPECM C G EGATIONS

13.PlaintiffsuccessfullyperformedthedutiesofaBusinessConsultantfortheDefendant,for

aperiodofapproximatelyten(10)months.

14.The Defendnnt,by the actions oftheiremployee and Tepresentative,Alliqon M ellon

C'MELLOND,Plaintiff was Hnforhmately subjected to repeated acts ofworkplace

discrim ination,basedonherTaceandnationalorigin,namely,

(a)Plaintil wasdismissively denied timeoff9om workowher- ,in contrastaother

membersoftheBusinessConnlltantTeaa werereadilyN tedtimeolgom work

(b)Plainulwasnotallowedtoselectaworkshift,whereas,illcontrast,othermembmsof

theBusinessConnzlhntTeam,couldchoosetheirstarttimeandendtime,b%edona

numberofoptions;

(c)Plaintiewasattl-mesllighlightedasG<code-rednonreports,allegedlyfordefcientsales

numbers,however,theallegationswerefalse,whereas,in contrast,oierm embersof

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theBusinessConsultantTeamswerenotaccused ofpe ormancedefciencies,when

theemployeeinfactwasperfonningaccordingtomnnngem ent'sexpectauons;

(d)PlaintiF suffered ongoing financiallossdue to routine discriminatory actionsof

Defendnntinre-directingrevenueaway9om Plaine .OnMarch8tb,2021,injus'tone

day,Defendnntre-O ectedEilty-seven(87)nurrentsalesoppoomitiesbeingworked

bythePlaintiF in ndherencetoestablished SLA guidelines,and dism-butedtheseto

others.Defendantrefusedtocoaectheractionts),evenwhenrequestedinwritingby

oneoftherecipientstorettm lsalerevenuetoPlaintiff.

(e)BetweenFebruary2021toAprilof2021.substantialrevenueopportunitieswere

reassignedandtakenaway9om thePlaintië wheremq,incontrast,othermembersof

theBusinessConsultantTeam,werenotsubjectedtosuchapractice;and

(9 DefendantroutinclyandintentionallyplacedPlaintiff'snameatthebottom ofvarious

salesrepo> to give thefalse impression tbatshe was descientin making sales;

whereas,in contrmst othermembers ofthe Business ConsultantTeam,were not

subjectedtothispersonnelaction;

(g)Plaintif wasmndetofeeluncomfortable,Rlessthan''anduless-valued''onnumerous

occasions,duetolanguageused by Defendantin 1:1meeting and connedsduring

Plaintic s emplom enton the Defendant's team.Plaintil remained professional,

courteous,andpolitedllringallinteractionsw ithDefendlmt.

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

toseniorleademllip'sassim ntsandtoLesliePearce,SeniorvicePresidentofInsideSaies,

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and < LLON becam eawreofPlaintiY sinternalrequestto havemeeung with upper

m anagement

16.OnM onday,April26,2021,thePlaintiF wassummmilyterminatedâom heremployment,

withoutanybusinessjustifcadonandorreasownndmoreover,tht'reisacausalconnection

between the requestform eeting to voice the complaink stating dispacate treatment

discrim inationahdtheterminationofthePlaintiF from heremploym entonApd126,2021.

17.Plaintifwasneversubjectedtoanyperformancemanagementactivityatanytimed'lring

heremploymentwithDefendantPlaintiffwent9om aonehundredpercent(100%)cleatl

Tecordatoimmediatedismissalandtenninationfrom herjobonANR26,2021.

18.A m eetinghad beenrequekedby thePlaintiffto speakw1t11seniorleadership,namely,

LesliePearce,SeniorvicepresidentofInsideSales,howeverbeforetlemeetingconvened,

andpriortothescheduledmeeting,tllePlaintiF wasulzlawfullyandsumm arilyterminsted

from heremployment.

colm T l

(m spm u TREATM ENT,BASED ON RACEDISCRIMTNATION,IN

U OLATION oFTHEFCRA)

19.The Plaintil restatesand reaversto allegationsassetforth in Paragraphs 1-18 ofthe

Complaintasiffullysetforthherein.

20.a lringheremplom entwitlltheDefendnnt,Plaintiffpossessedthesldllsandprofessional

background,necessarytoperform kerjobX tiesasaBusinessCongnltantiandmssucho

PlaintiffwasqualitiedforthepositionofBusinessConsultant.

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2!.Iàllringheremploymentw1t1:theDefendankPlaine wasahighachiever,Plaine caried

outherdutiesandftmctionsasins% ctedtodw andasperguidancereceived,Plaintil w%

neverplacedonanypedbrmancem anagementactivity,Plaintil maintainedacleanrecord

throughoutheremploymentw1t1theDefendant.

22.Dlm'ngheremploymentstheDefendnntvte oughitsagent,M ELLON,treatedthePlaine

differentlyandlessfavorably*om similarlysituatedemployeesoutsideofherprotected

clmss,thedisparatetreatmentofthePlaintiffincluded,butwasnotlîmitedto,thepersoM el

actionstakenbytheDefendant,illParagaphs14(a)-(g),above.

23.n esediscriminatory actionsoftlleDefendrmt,againstthePlaintiK when considered

collectively,consituteanadverseemploymentaction,forpe osesoftheFCIIA

24.InsubjectingthePlaintiltothisadverseemploymentactions,thesepersonalactions,taken

together,were tmdelu ken,on the basis of the Plaintiœ s race,and the Defendant

illtentionallydiscriminatedagainstthePlaintim onthebasksofht'rmce,morespecilkally,

thePlaintiœ sraceconeimted amotivatingfactorintheimplem entation oftheadverse

emplom entactions.

25..H subjectingthePlaintifftoadverseemploymentactionsthePlaintiFstatusmsanemployee

wasalteredmandthetermqconditions,compensationandorprio egesofemplom entwere

unlawfully changedinviolationoftheFCM .

26.As a proximste resultofthe aforementioned,intentionaldiscriminatory acts of the

Defendant thePlaintif hassuFered damages,including,butnotlim ited to economic

losses, employmentbenefts,emotional paim m ffering mental R guish,the loss of

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enlom entoflifeanddignityinjury;andreasonablecosts,includingattomey'sfees,in

purmlingthisredressforthedeprivationofPlaintiœ scivilrights.

27.Theclaim fordisparatetreatmentonthebmsisofrace,isassertedagainsttlw Defendant,

pumlmnttotheFCRA,Fla.Stat 760.01,etseq.

28.By and through the actsallegei Defendnntintentionally discdminated againqtthe

Plaintil tbroug,htheDefendant'semployeesandoragents,establishesaclaim orcauseof

acdon forrace discrim ination,underthe FCM ,more specifically,the FCM forbids

discriminationagainstanyemployee,onthebasisofraceandorcolor,withrespecttothe

tenns,conditionsand()rpdvilegesofemplom ent

29.lfthePlaintiffprevailsonherFCRA claimR,resultingi'nthevindicationofhercivilrights,

thentllePlrdntA isentitledtoreasonableattorney'sfeestmdertheFCRA

W H EREFORE,Plaltiffpraystlll'qCourttograntthefollowingrelieE anorderdeclaring

thatthe Defendantviolated the Plaintx srightsunder the FCRA;an ordergranting

compensatory damages, for emotionalpain and suffedng, mental anguish, loss of

enjom entoflife,dignityinjuryandothernon-pecuniarylosses,anordergrantingback

pay,Zcluding theeconom icvalueoflostemploymentbenefm and interestontheback

pay,anorderforgontpayandhterestonâontpay,orforreinm tementin lieuoffront

pay,anorderforreasonableatorney'sfeesandcosts,punitivedamages,anorderenjoining

fheDefendantfrom engaginginanysuchunlawfulemplom entpracticeundertheFCM ,

and forany otherfurthernffirmative relief orequitableTeliefasthe Courtdeems

appropriate,andforotherftzrtberreliefastheCourtdeemstobel'ustandproper.

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cotv u

ttolsrm u TREATM ENT,BAsa oN xAn oxu om cm

m scRTm u Tlox,m vlol-m ox oFTHE FcRA)

30.PlaintiffrestatesandreaverstheallegationcontainedinParavaphs1-18oftheComplaint,

asiffullysd forthherein3l.13uringheremplom entwiththeDefendnnt,Plaintiffpossesscdtheskillsandm ofessiM al

backpoundxnecessarytoperform herjobduiesmsaBusinessConsultant;andasmlch,

PlaintiffwœsqualG edforthepositionofBusinessConsultant.

32.Duringheremplom enttheDefendankthroughitsagent,M ELLON,treatedthePlaintiff

dilerenlly and lessfavorably *om similarly situatedemployeesoutsideofherprotected

clmss,thedisparatetrea% entofthePlaintiffincludedvbutwasnotlimitedto,thepersonnel

acdonstakenbytheDefendant,inParapaphs14(a)-(g),above.

33.ThesediscriminatoryactionsoftheDefendnn: againstthePlaintil when considered

collectively,constituteanadvemeemplom entadion;forpe osesoftheFCRA

34.InsubjectingthePlaine tothisadverseemplom entadions,theseadionstakentogether,

were undertaken,on the basks of the Plaine s nationalorigin,and the Defendant

intentionallydiscrim instedagaingtthePlaintiffontllébasisofhernadonaloriginam ore

spece cally, the Plaine s nadonal origiq constituted a m odvating factor in the

implementationoftheadverseemplom entactions.

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35.InsubjedingthePlaintifftoadverseemploymentacEon,thePlnine statusasanemployee

wasalterc andthetermgconditions,compensationandorprivilegesofemploymentwere

unlawfullychangedinviolationoftheFCM .

36.Asa proximate resultofthe aforementioned,intentionaldiscriminatory acts of tlle

Defendnn: thePlaintifrhœqmzcered damages,including,butnotlimited to economic

losses, emplom ent beneiks, emotionalpain, suffezing mental anguish,the loss of

enjom entoflifeanddignityinjury;andreasonshlecosts,includingattorney'sfees,itl

pnmuingthisredressforthedeprivation ofPlaintr scivilrights.

37.n eclaim fordisparatetreatment on thebasisofnationalorigin,isassertedagainstthe

Defendnnt,pursuanttotheFCRA Fla.Stat.760.01,e/seq.

38.By and 'through the acts allegeda Defendantintentionaiy discriminated againstthe

Plaintil throughtheDefendant'semployeesandoragents,establishesaclaim orcauseof

acEon formce disM mination,underthe FCRA,more spece cally,the FCIIA forbids

discriminntion agains'tanyemployeeonthebasisofraceandorcolorwithrespecttothe

terms,conditionsandorpdvilegesofemployment

39.IfthePlaintiffprevailsonherFCRA claimK,resultinginthevindicationofhercivilrights,

thenthePlaine isentitledtoreasonableattorney'sfeesundertheFCRA

W HEREFORE,Plaine prayslhigCourttogranttbefollowingr4elief:anorderdechring

thatthe Defendnntviolated the Plaintiœ srightsunder the FCM ;an order grantlg

compensatory damages,for emotionalpain and suffeting, mental anguishe loss of

enjoymentoflife,dignityinjuryandothernon-pemmiarylosses,alordergrantingback

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pay,includingtheeconomicvalueoflostemploymentbeneftsaxldinterestontheback

pay,an orderforgontpayandinterestonfrontpay,orforreinstatementin Eeu ofgont

pay,anorderforreasonableattomey'sfeesandcosts,ptmitivedamages,anorderenjoining

theDefendnnt*om engaginginanysuchzmlawfulemplom entpracticeImdertheFCM ,

and forany qlerfhdheramrmauve reliet orequitable Teliefas the Courtdeemg

appropriate,andforotherfurtherreliefastheCourtdeemstobejustandproper.

COUNT HI

(RETM M H ON,INVIOM TION OF TIIEFCM )

35.Plainiffrem tesandreaverstheallegaioncontainedinParagraphs1-18oftheComplaintx

asiffullysd forthherein36.The FcltA prohibits employers such as the Defendnnt, 9om tsking any adverse

employmentactionoagainstemployees,in retaliation fortheirengaging in statutorily

protededactivity,underthiKstatute.

37.AsanemployeeoftheDefendnnt,thePlaintiffwasprotectedagainstretaliatoryadverse

employmentactions,forengaginginstamtorilyprotectedactivitytmdertheFCRA.

38.M ore spece cally,Plaine wisprotected againstany retaliatory personnelactionyfor

opposinganypmcticeoftheDefendantvmadetmlawfulundertàeFCM .

39.Furtherm ore,the PlaintiF w as protected againstrdaliatiow for opposing employm ent

decisions,whichwerebasedonraceandornationalorigim

40.Priorto April26,2021,Plaintiffhad engaged in protected activitywhen she madean

intemalrequestto speakwithLesliePearce,SeniorVicePresidentofInsideSales,about

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thediscviminntionshesuceredyandalthougham eetingw11 theSeniorVicea esidentwas

urgentlyrequested,andhadnotyettakenplace,Plaintil wasveryhastilytenninatedfrom

herpositiononApril26,2021.

41.Plaintiffhnd a remsonable,good fail beliet thatshe wasopposing discriminstory

employmentpractices,whichwerebeingimplementedbytheDefenrlnnt.

42.InresponsetoPlaintic sstatutorilyprotected activity,thePlainte wasterminated9om

heremploymentwithtlzeDefendrmt,tltetermination wasaclearactofreprisal,and it

adverselya/ectedPlaztiœ sstatusasanemployee43.n elossofPlaintiœ semployment,anultim ateemploymentdecision,perpe% tedbythe

Defendant,thisdecisionadversely afectedthePlaintiY sstatusasaa employee,andthe

retaliatoryactwasreasonablylikelytodeterotheremployœsfrom engao ginprotected

activity.andass'uchtheultimsteterminstiondecisionwasanadverseemploym entactiow

undertheFCRA

44.Defendant,tbrough itsagentsandoremployeeswasawareofthePlaintiœ sstatutorily

protected activity,whenthedismissal9om emplom entwasimplemented,specifcally,

thePlaintiF wassubjected toanadverseemplom entactionaftersheIIJVIengagedin

stamton'lym otectedactivity45.n e adverse emplom entaction wasundertaken because ofthe Plaintim s statutorily

protectedactivity,morespecifkallyPlaintiœ sstatutorilyprotectedâctivitywmsthecause

oftheadverseemploymentactiom

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@

46.Intakîngthisadverseemploymentadionagam'RtthePlaintil becauseofherstatutorily

protected activity,the Defendantintentionally discn-minated againsttlle Plaine with

respectto compensation,terms,conditions and or tlle privileges ofheremplom ent,

includingthelossofheremployment.

47.By andthrough theactsallegeG theDefendnntintentionally discriminated againstthe

PlaintiffforengaginginstqtutorilyprotededactivityundertheFCM .

48.n eclnim forretaliationisassertedagainsttheDefendnntpllrmlsnttotheFCRA Fla.Stat.

Sedion760.01,e/seq.

49.Byandthroughtheactsalleged,theDefendsnthasintentionallydisY minatedagainstthe

PlaintiffforengaglgillstamtorilyprotectedactivityundertheS'CIlA.

50.The aforem entioned discriminatory act of tle Defendant,the ultimate employment

decisionaterminadonawasundertxken inresponsetoPlaintie sinternalrequesttospeak

w1 seniorleademhip,becauseofthediscrim ination.

51.Asa proximate causeoftheaforementioned intentionaland discrimlnatory actsofthe

Defendant,through itsemployeesmld oragents,tlle Plaintifr has suffered dam ages,

includingthelossofbackpay,andtheassociatedbenetitsofherprioremploymentwith

the Defendlmt,as wellms compensatory dsm ages for m ental anguish and pain and

sux ring.

52.TheFCRA prohibitsemployers9om takinganyadverseemploymentagainstanemployee

inretaliationforengaginginstatutorilym otectedaCTiWty.

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53.TftltePlaine prevailsonherFCRA claim,resultinginthevindicadonofhercivilrights,

th0 thePlaintiffisentitledtore%onableattomey'sfees,pnmnnmttotheFCM .

W HEREFORE,Plaino m aysthisCourttograntthefollowingrdief:anorderdeclan'ng

thatthe Defendantviolated tlle Plaintiœ srightsunderthe FCM ;allordergranting

compensatory dnmnges,for emoGonalpaia and stllen-ng,mentalanguish loss of

enjom entoflife,dignityinjuryandothernon-pecuniatylosses,anordergrantingback

pay,includingtheeconomicvalueoflostemploymentbenefitsandinterestontheback

pay,an orderforgontpayandintereston gontpay,orforreinstatementinlieuofgont

pay,anorderforremsonableattorney'sfeesandcosts,punitivednmages,anorderenjoining

theDefendnntfrom engaginginanysuchunlawfulemploymentpracticeundertheFCRN

and forany otherfurthernm rmative reliet orequitable reliefasthe Courtdeems

appropriate,andforotherfndherreliefastheCourtdeemstobejus'tandproper.

D em and forlurvTrial

Plaintildemands*a1byjuryofa1aotionssoZable.

Resw dfullysubm itted,

DaphneEdwards,rm se

4860D DocksideDrive

CoconutCreek FI33063

Telephone:954-856-033j.

Datedonthis13tbdayofDecmnber, 2022.

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