Pharmacy tech fired for dispensing errors sues Walgreens, citing ADHD as a factor
An Iowa pharmacy tech fired for medication-dispensing errors is suing her former employer. (Photo via Getty Images)
An Iowa pharmacy tech fired for medication-dispensing errors is suing her former employer, claiming her attention-deficit disorder was a factor in her job performance.
Saleena Gooch is suing Walgreens Pharmacy in U.S District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
The lawsuit alleges the Walgreens store at 2508 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, hired Gooch in January 2019 as a shift lead and in 2020 transferred her the store's pharmacy, where she worked as a customer service associate, pharmacy technician and pharmacy operations manager.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
In July 2024, the lawsuit claims, Gooch was working in the store when the pharmacist on duty handed her a prescription order and instructed her to sell the medication to a waiting customer. Gooch allegedly followed the pharmacist's directions, called out the name on the prescription order and the waiting customer responded.
She then asked the customer to verify, on a display screen, the telephone number associated with the order, to which the customer responded, 'That is not my number.' Gooch reportedly asked the customer whether the displayed number could be an old phone number, and the customer indicated he didn't think so, but then confirmed for Gooch the name of the medication included in the order.
Later in the day, another customer arrived and asked for the same prescription order Gooch had already sold, triggering an internal investigation as to what had transpired.
At some point after that incident, the lawsuit claims, Walgreens failed to review its proposed disciplinary action against Gooch in order to 'take into consideration her diagnosis' of ADHD, and her employment was terminated.
According to the lawsuit, Gooch had previously been involved in other cases involving errors in dispensing medication. In October 2023, she had sold a prescription order, presumably to the wrong customer, in a situation where two different customers had the same first and last names.
In March 2024, a pharmacist instructed Gooch to ring up a prescription order despite the fact that the courier picking up the order was doing so for multiple customers and could not verify the customer information requested of him. It was later determined that one of the prescription orders was intended for a different individual.
A few weeks after that incident, in April 2024, Gooch sold a prescription order to another individual who was picking up multiple orders for different people. One prescription bag became stuck to another bag and was presumably sold despite a lack of verification as to that person's identity.
It was after the incidents in March and April of 2024, the lawsuit alleges, that Walgreens management instructed Gooch to be tested for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and she was later diagnosed with the disorder.
Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged violations of state and federal laws prohibiting employers from discriminating against an individual on the basis of a physical or mental disability, such as ADHD.
Walgreens has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
State records indicate Gooch's pharmacy technician license is in good standing with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, with no history of public disciplinary action.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
White House Hints at Thawing of Trump-Musk Feud
Elon Musk shakes hands with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025, days before a feud erupted between them over social media. Credit - Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images The President of the United States and the world's richest man may be tired of fighting. After Elon Musk wrote Wednesday on X that he regretted some of the things he posted about President Donald Trump the week before, Trump hinted he was ready to move on. It was 'very nice' Musk expressed regret, Trump told the New York Post in a phone interview Wednesday morning. Trump's White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavit echoed that sentiment speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon. 'The President acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning and he is appreciative of it. We are continuing to focus on the work of the American people,' Leavitt said. Last week, Trump publicly threatened to terminate Musk's government contracts as a feud between the two men unfolded on social media spat. Musk's companies SpaceX and Tesla have benefited from tens of billions in subsidies, contracts and tax breaks over the years. But it appears Trump hadn't yet followed through on that threat. Asked if Trump had moved to block government funds going to Musk's companies, Leavitt said, 'No efforts have been made on that as far as I'm aware.' The very public breakup between Trump and Musk began last week over Musk's opposition to the massive tax-and-spending bill that Republicans are trying to push through Congress. The bill is the centerpiece of Trump's domestic agenda. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the current version of the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. As both men attacked one another, Musk claimed Trump wouldn't have won the 2024 election without him and, in what Musk described as 'the really big bomb,' wrote in a post on X—without evidence—that Trump is named in the case files of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and suggested that was the reason the full files have not been made public. Musk's message was later deleted. Then early Wednesday, Musk posted on X: 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.' Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arizona's GOP delegation chose tax breaks for billionaires over clean energy jobs and public health
Photo by iStock / Getty Images Plus As a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience serving vulnerable communities across Arizona — in school clinics, long-term care facilities, and public health programs — I've dedicated my career to helping people live healthier, safer lives. I've worked with families struggling to find affordable care, seniors battling chronic health conditions, and children suffering from asthma worsened by air pollution. That's why I was deeply disappointed to see Arizona's Republican delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives vote in favor of what President Donald Trump is calling a 'big, beautiful bill.' There's nothing beautiful about it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This bill would add $3.8 trillion to the national debt in order to give massive tax breaks to billionaires — at the direct expense of hardworking Arizonans. Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar and Abe Hamadeh shamefully supported this reckless plan, which guts essential programs that keep people healthy and safe. (Rep. David Schweikert slept through the vote, but said he would have backed it.) That includes slashing Medicaid and food assistance that countless Arizona families rely on. It also repeals clean energy investments made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These programs are creating jobs, improving air quality, helping combat Arizona's extreme heat and lowering energy costs for our communities. In just two years, the IRA has created nearly 19,000 clean energy jobs and generated $12.75 billion in investment for Arizona. These are real, tangible opportunities, especially in rural and underserved areas, where job growth and energy affordability are most needed. Rolling back these investments would halt progress, increase electricity bills, and eliminate job opportunities in Arizona's growing clean energy sector. This is particularly dangerous in a state like ours, where the climate impacts are not some distant threat, but our day-to-day reality. Arizona just experienced one of the hottest years on record, and extreme heat is now a leading cause of weather-related deaths. Seniors are especially vulnerable, and many already struggle to pay rising utility bills. Repealing clean energy incentives would worsen those burdens, put lives at risk, and raise energy costs by nearly $400 per household. Our summers are growing longer and hotter, and Arizona is home to some of the fastest-warming cities in the country. Heat-related illnesses have been increasing in tandem with these extreme events. This kind of heat can cause a range of serious health issues, from dehydration and exhaustion to life-threatening conditions like heatstroke. It also worsens chronic illnesses like heart and lung disease, which are common among older adults. Rising temperatures have also been linked to increased mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and even suicide. As extreme heat events become more frequent, health leaders and policymakers must take action now to protect both physical and mental well-being through informed, climate-resilient strategies. These clean energy investments are also key in reducing utility bills by making homes more energy-efficient and expanding access to affordable, clean energy. Through rebates, tax credits, and incentives for home upgrades such as insulation, heat pumps and solar panels, the IRA empowers families — especially those in low-income and historically underserved communities — to reduce their energy consumption and save money each month. As climate-driven extreme heat becomes more frequent and severe, adopting stronger building codes and fully implementing IRA programs are essential to building resilience, protecting vulnerable communities, and easing financial burdens for those most at risk After a lifetime of work, our elders deserve dignity, not heatstroke and financial insecurity. As older adults, we also have a responsibility to protect future generations. Our choices today will determine whether our grandchildren inherit livable communities or face even more deadly heatwaves and health crises. Arizona's decision-makers should be fighting for policies that protect public health, economic security and our environment, not handing out tax breaks to billionaires while our communities suffer. The 'big, beautiful bill' does exactly the opposite. It's an attack on the people I've spent my life caring for — families, seniors, and those most vulnerable to both economic and environmental injustice. We deserve better. Arizona deserves leaders who will put people over profits and prioritize a healthier, more just future for all. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE


CBS News
5 hours ago
- CBS News
$20,000 CD vs. $20,000 high-yield savings account: What to consider right now
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Both CDs and high-yield savings accounts could be viable places to store $20,000 right now. Getty Images Certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts have traditionally offered savers similar benefits. Both come with higher interest rates than can be found with regular savings accounts. And both have seen rates spike in recent years thanks to an elevated interest rate climate. Accordingly, each account type has given savers a much-needed boost when their funds were otherwise being damaged by inflation and higher borrowing costs. But that doesn't mean they're equally as beneficial, either. While the differences between the two may be negligible with smaller deposit amounts, as savers look to put more money into either, concerns over differences become more pronounced. This is particularly true for savers looking to boost their interest on five-figure amounts, like $20,000. If you're comparing a $20,000 CD against a $20,000 high-yield savings account now, for example, there are some timely considerations to think about before getting started. Below, we'll break down three of them. See how much interest you could be earning with a high-rate CD here. $20,000 CD vs. $20,000 high-yield savings account: What to consider now Don't rush into depositing this much money into one of these accounts before first examining these three timely items: The interest-earning potential CD and high-yield savings account rates are comparable. Rates on short-term CDs, for example, are between 4.31% and 4.49% now, while they're between 4.25% and 4.31% for high-yield savings accounts, according to Bankrate data. While that may seem like they have the same interest-earning potential, the details here matter. Those CD rates will mature after the account term ends in three to six months, while the high-yield savings account rates could change before that point, thanks to a variable rate that changes frequently for savers. In other words, you'll need to do the calculations to determine which can earn you more interest over time. While rates are similar now, they may not remain so for much longer. Compare your high-yield savings account options online today. Upcoming rate changes Depositing $20,000 into a 6-month CD with a rate of 4.49% can earn you more than $400 now. But doing the same with a high-yield savings account likely won't. With rate cuts appearing more likely for later this year, rates on high-yield savings accounts may fall at the same time that the CD rate remains fixed. While Fed rate cuts won't impact savings account rates by the same margin, there will be an impact. And with the CME Group's FedWatch tool listing a September 2025 rate cut as a more than 67% likelihood, this could hurt savers relatively soon, especially considering that banks don't have to wait for formal rate cuts to adjust the rates they provide savers. Understanding this possible reality, then, savers may want to put their $20,000 into a CD instead. Access to your money A CD requires savers to leave their money untouched for the full CD term or risk having to pay an early withdrawal penalty to regain access. And $20,000 is a lot of money to lose access to, particularly if it's for a long-term CD of more than 12 months. Savers will need to judge for themselves if this is both worth the return and simple to do. If it's not both, then it may be better to put that money into a high-yield savings account, even if it means having to endure predictable rate cuts later this year and in 2026. Consider, then, the early withdrawal penalties of a CD versus the changes in rates that high-yield savings accounts may come with to better determine which is more valuable for your unique situation. The bottom line The decision to deposit $20,000 into a CD or high-yield savings account now should be primarily guided by the above three considerations. There won't be a one-size-fits-all answer, however, so view these guidelines through your own financial prism to determine an answer. And don't leave your money in a traditional savings account. With rates there under 0.50% now, you're essentially losing money by not taking advantage with a CD or high-yield savings account now, even if the economic climate appears a bit unpredictable.