Marybeth Walz alleges she was denied paid leave because the babies were born through a surrogate and later died
Verizon discriminated against a Red Bank woman because her children were delivered by a surrogate, a lawsuit alleges (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) A Red Bank woman whose twins were born through a surrogate says she was denied paid leave by her employer before being demoted and eventually fired.
Marybeth Walz's sister-in-law delivered the twin boys, who were born four months premature and died not long after birth, according to a report from DailyBeast.com.
Walz sued her former employer, Verizon, which she says discriminated against her on the basis of sex, pregnancy and disability.
The then-senior client executive asserts a human resources manager told Walz she wasn't eligible for paid leave because she planned to use a surrogate.
Walz then opted to take unpaid time off, selling her house so she could afford to live.
Jude and Thad were delivered by emergency cesarian section in November 2013. Thad died the following day of a pulmonary hemorrhage. Jude died about two months later of a rare form of congenital cancer, the report said.
After the loss of her second child, Verizon permitted Walz to go on short-term disability. Once that expired in August, she was allowed to take long-term disability.
But shortly after that was approved by Verizon, Walz received a termination letter from the company, the suit alleges.
Verizon denies the claims of discrimination.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
