Cassidy v. Pocono Med. Ctr. (Summary)

HIPAA

Cassidy v. Pocono Med. Ctr., No. 3:12-CV-1191 (M.D. Pa. May 31, 2013)

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania granted a medical center’s motion for summary judgment in an age discrimination case filed by a nurse.

The nurse brought suit against the hospital after she was terminated for a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”).  The nurse claimed that she was terminated solely because of her age and replaced by a younger nurse.

The district court granted summary judgment, stating that while the nurse had demonstrated that she was above the protected age, suffered an adverse employment action, and was replaced by a younger employee, the medical center had provided sufficient evidence that the reason the nurse was terminated was for a HIPAA violation, and the nurse failed to provide evidence that this reason was pretextual.