More Bad News for the County

By Kevin Robinson in News on Apr 21, 2008 1:00PM

According to Crain's Chicago Business, three doctors are suing Cook County for employment discrimination.

Three doctors who were laid off amid widespread layoffs at Cook County’s health system last year are suing the county, claiming officials ignored their seniority in making the job cuts.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Chicago, also claims the county “has a longstanding practice of underpaying and overworking black and female physicians.” Two of the plaintiffs, orthopedic surgeon Vietta L. Johnson and oral surgeon Karen Nash, also are suing the Cook County Bureau of Health Services for sex and race discrimination.

Dr. Johnson and orthopedic surgeon Daniel Ivankovich also claim that the county targeted them for layoffs in retaliation for their support of an earlier union-organizing drive at Provident. The three physicians are seeking back pay and an unspecified amount in damages. The county had no comment.

Image via Paco Seaone