Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer in Silver Spring
A $500,000 Federal Verdict Behind Every Pregnancy Discrimination Claim We Handle
Pregnancy discrimination claims often combine two violations at once: an employer treats a worker poorly because she’s pregnant, then fires her for disclosing it. That combination isn’t hypothetical for us. Founding attorney Ikechukwu Emejuru took an employment discrimination and wrongful termination case through a full federal jury trial and secured a $500,000 verdict. If you’re facing something similar, we represent pregnancy discrimination clients throughout Silver Spring and the surrounding Maryland and Washington, D.C., area.
Emejuru Law is based in Silver Spring. Attorney Emejuru brings over a decade of legal experience and builds a personalized strategy around each client’s specific circumstances rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
If your employer took action against you because of your pregnancy, call us at (240) 607-5552 to discuss your situation in a confidential consultation.
What Pregnancy Discrimination Means Under the Law
Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee unfavorably because she is pregnant, has given birth, or has a pregnancy-related medical condition. Federal law classifies this as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as clarified by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. Maryland law takes the same position, treating pregnancy discrimination as prohibited sex discrimination in employment.
Federal & Maryland Laws That Protect Pregnant Workers
Several overlapping laws protect workers in the Silver Spring area from pregnancy-related discrimination. Understanding which ones apply to your situation is part of how we evaluate a claim.
Federal Protections
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA): Effective June 27, 2023, this law requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for known pregnancy-related limitations unless doing so would cause undue hardship.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for pregnancy-related reasons and requires reinstatement to an equivalent role afterward.
- Lactation accommodations: The federal PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for employees to express breast milk for up to one year after childbirth.
Maryland Protections
- Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act: Prohibits pregnancy discrimination as a form of sex discrimination and covers employers with 15 or more employees.
- Maryland pregnancy accommodation law: Maryland has required covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related limitations since 2013, years before the federal PWFA took effect.
- Maryland Parental Leave Act: Provides up to six weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, available to mothers, fathers, and adoptive parents at Maryland employers with 15 to 49 employees that aren’t already covered by the FMLA.
How Pregnancy Discrimination Shows Up at Work
Not every violation is a termination. Pregnancy discrimination can take several forms, and some are easier to overlook than others.
- Termination or demotion shortly after disclosing a pregnancy
- Denial of promotions, raises, or opportunities given to non-pregnant employees
- Refusal to provide reasonable accommodations, such as schedule adjustments for medical appointments or temporary light-duty assignments, that would be granted to other employees with comparable medical conditions
- Unwelcome comments or conduct related to the pregnancy that create a hostile work environment
- Failure to reinstate an employee to her previous or a comparable position after pregnancy-related leave
- Denial of health insurance or other benefits available to non-pregnant employees
Why Workers Across Maryland Choose Emejuru Law
We’ve resolved hundreds of employment cases over more than a decade of practice. What distinguishes us isn’t volume alone. It’s the willingness to take a case the full distance when the facts support it. Our federal jury trial result in an employment discrimination and wrongful termination matter reflects that directly, and pregnancy discrimination claims frequently involve that same combination of allegations.
We tailor litigation strategy to each client, evaluating which laws apply, which agency provides the right forum, and whether a negotiated resolution or trial is the right path. Throughout the process, clients work directly with Attorney Emejuru.
Filing a Pregnancy Discrimination Claim in Maryland
Before filing a lawsuit, most employees must first file a complaint with a government agency. In Maryland, that means filing with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Complaints generally must be filed within 300 days of the discriminatory act, though harassment claims may carry a two-year window under Maryland law. Silver Spring falls within Montgomery County, and the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights is an additional resource for workers in this area. If a lawsuit becomes necessary, cases may be filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland or in Montgomery County Circuit Court, depending on the claims at issue. We can guide clients through each stage, from the initial agency charge through litigation if it comes to that.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation
We offer confidential consultations to discuss your situation and help you understand your options. We also speak Spanish upon request. There’s no obligation after speaking with us, but waiting can narrow your legal window.
Contact Emejuru Law at (240) 607-5552 to schedule your consultation.
