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Background: Huntington National Bank in Howell, Mich. (Google Maps). Inset: Terri Estepp (WXYZ).
A Michigan mom filed a federal lawsuit claiming that her employer suddenly — and wrongly — fired her for asking to take federally guaranteed time off to care for her daughter who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Terri Estepp said she was a successful banking employee for over 28 years until she was “abruptly fired” by the branch manager of what she says was one of Huntington National Bank’s “most successful branches” for attempting to take time off under the Family Medical Leave Act (FLMA) to care for her adult daughter, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Estepp, 51, said in her lawsuit that her personnel file “is filled with decades of performance reviews” indicating her stellar performance at the bank.
“Her 2023 year-end review stated that, ‘Terri is by all means an exceptional role model for her team,”” noted the complaint, which commented that Estepp was known to go “above and beyond” for team members and customers.
According to the 10-page complaint filed in federal court in Michigan, the review said that “Terri had an exceptional sales year,” and was instrumental in growing the branch.
In April 2023, Estepp’s daughter, Samantha, who lived in California, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Estepp said she first traveled to California using her vacation time and Huntington’s Caretaker Time Off program to be present for her daughter’s treatment.
In March 2024, Estepp flew to California again to be with her daughter who was then hospitalized. Per the complaint, Estepp’s plan was to use two weeks of FMLA leave. However, because her daughter’s medical condition worsened, she extended her leave time to be out of the office from March 27 to April 26, 2024. Estepp noted this was, “by far the longest period of time off Ms. Estepp had ever received.”
Estepp said she returned to work on April 29, 2024, but was immediately notified that her daughter’s condition had again worsened. On April 30, 2024, Estepp said she told her manager that she needed more FMLA time to care for her daughter. Instead, though, Estepp said she was fired without explanation.
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Estepp said in her filing that her boss “was so overwrought with emotion” over the firing that, “she was literally sobbing and unable to explain.” Rather, the boss, “simply begged her to hand over her keys and leave the building, because there were no other words she could speak through her tears.” Ten days later, Estepp’s daughter Samantha, 31, passed away.
“I told my employer I needed to go back to my kid. She needed me, and they showed up that day and they fired me,” Estepp told local ABC affiliate WZZM.
The FMLA guarantees employees the right to take up to 12 weeks per year of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for a spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
Estepp brought claims against Huntington for interference with FMLA and retaliatory termination, and requests unspecified damages.
In an emailed statement to Law&Crime Thursday, Huntington National Bank said, “Ms. Estepp’s departure from Huntington Bank was unrelated to an FMLA leave of absence.”
“We were saddened to learn of her daughter’s passing and extend our condolences to Ms. Estepp and her family,” said the statement. “While Huntington Bank does not comment on active litigation, we are committed to compliance with all employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, and we acted appropriately in this matter.”
You can read the full complaint here.