Suit: Maternity Chain Discriminated

Friday, January 12th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BALTIMORE (AP) â€” A former employee of a nationwide maternity-wear retailer has filed a $52 million federal lawsuit, alleging the chain discriminated against her after she got pregnant.

Laurie Cox of Baltimore said she lost her job as an area manager for Mothers Work Inc. while she was on maternity leave.

Her lawsuit contends Mothers Work ``demonstrated intolerance and discrimination toward pregnant employees.''

Calls seeking comment from the Philadelphia-based Mothers Work were not returned.

The company told Cox in early 1999 that her position was eliminated in a series of job cuts. She was offered a job as a store manager with a 45 percent cut in salary, according to the lawsuit. When she called back a few days later, she was told she had been terminated.

The day before Cox gave birth, Mothers Work told her she would no longer be managing a store at a mall in Delaware, according to the lawsuit. She says the company blamed poor supervision, substandard maintenance and theft. Cox claims it was the first time the company told her about the problems.

Her complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, accuses the company of violating the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 as well as the Family and Medical Leave Act. Cox is seeking $2 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.

Shares of Mothers Work were unchanged at $8.88 in trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.