Former manager at the Huntington branch files lawsuit against the bank, accusing them of FMLA violations

Former manager at the Huntington branch files lawsuit against the bank, accusing them of FMLA violations

Terri Estepp, a former branch manager at Huntington Bank, has filed a lawsuit against the financial institution, alleging wrongful termination in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) [1][2]. The lawsuit stems from Estepp's claim that she was fired after taking leave to care for her dying daughter, Samantha, who tragically passed away last year.

According to the lawsuit, Estepp took four weeks of leave under the FMLA and requested an extension due to her daughter's worsening condition. Soon after this request, Estepp was terminated, with her district manager reportedly being overcome with emotion during the termination [1].

Prior to her termination, Estepp's branch was the number one in the country in the last quarter. Her 400-page personnel file, spanning nearly 30 years, is said to be filled with praise, raises, and promotions, with no performance write-ups or indications of failures [1].

The bank has expressed condolences to Estepp and her family over the passing of her daughter. However, they have not disclosed the specific reason for Estepp's termination. The bank's spokesperson also stated that they do not comment on active litigation [1].

The district manager is said to have re-credentialed Estepp to access personal customer information before she came back from leave. Interestingly, before returning from her initial FMLA leave, Estepp received texts from her district manager expressing excitement about her return [1].

Huntington Bank has stated that they are committed to compliance with all employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act [1]. However, Estepp's lawsuit accuses the bank of failing to uphold FMLA protections guaranteeing job security during such family medical leave [1][2].

As of now, the case is being heard in the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, with no further detailed legal filings, case status, or Huntington Bank's response found in the search results [1][2]. The relevant sources mainly highlight the basic facts of alleged wrongful termination linked to FMLA violations stemming from this personal loss [1][2].

In the context of the lawsuit, Terri Estepp alleges that Huntington Bank, a financial institution, has violated her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by terminating her after she took leave to care for her dying daughter, an action that directly affects her business dealings. Despite the bank's commitment to compliance with employment laws, Estepp's lawsuit accuses Huntington Bank of failing to uphold FMLA protections, thereby endangering the job security of employees who require family medical leave.

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