Nurse Fired After Stint in Iraq Sues Health Giant

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=12659

Nurse Fired After Stint in Iraq Sues Health Giant

Nurse Fired After Stint in Iraq Sues Health Giant

by Rene Ciria-Cruz, Truthout

New America Media

Tuesday 23 January 2007

A highly decorated Air Force nurse was fired after deployment to Balad, Iraq. With more troops being sent for more frequent and longer multiple deployments, her case could be the tip of the iceberg.

San Francisco - Lieutenant Colonel Debra Muhl, an Air Force nurse, saved many soldiers' lives in combat zones in Bosnia, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq. She has received more than 20 medals for valor and distinguished service.

She never expected what she got from her civilian employer when she told them she was being deployed to Iraq - a dismissal notice.

Muhl filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, accusing health giant Sutter Health of violating the law that Congress passed specifically to protect the civilian jobs of Reserves and National Guard members when they are called to deployment or training.

"If it happened to someone with my rank and experience, it could happen to newer soldiers of lower rank," Muhl warns.

"Sutter Health ignored its obligations under those laws and fired Lt. Col. Muhl after she served for four months at Balad Air Base in Iraq," said Muhl's attorney David A. Lowe of the San Francisco-based law firm Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff.

Muhl was the $175,000-a-year administrative director of Sutter Health's Joint Cardiac Program, when she learned she was being sent to Iraq for four months, starting on Jan. 16 last year.

"I never thought that they would fire me from my position." Muhl said. "I was devastated. I felt betrayed." The 56-year-old San Francisco resident with two grown daughters had been with Sutter Health for 10 years. She has been in the military for 32 years, with seven years of active duty.

Karen Garner, Sutter Health communication director, says Muhl's termination was a result of cost-cutting decisions made well before her military leave, an explanation Muhl disputes. Garner says Sutter supported Muhl's three military leaves of absence and made "two exceptions" to its military leave policy.

"We granted her military leave despite the fact of her termination and allowed her to exceed total allowable supplemental pay period." Sutter gave her six months supplemental pay and retirement benefits, Garner says. "Sutter has a strong and generous military leave policy above and beyond what the law requires," she adds.

FULL story at link.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Tip of the iceberg

but hey, we do suport the troops

Perhaps the Colonel will think better next time

:sarcasm:

[Miss Chybil]

2. Totally against the law. Her employer should have no legs to stand on with this one. nt