15-05-2025
City of Huntsville facing another discrimination lawsuit from second former police dispatcher
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A second former Huntsville Police dispatcher is suing the city, claiming they faced workplace discrimination.
Court records show Allison Ellis, a former dispatcher, is suing the city. Ellis's lawsuit said she also faced discrimination based on her gender and religious affiliation. Records show Ellis is also suing Michael Danley, a lieutenant at the Huntsville Police Department.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday, two days after former Huntsville Dispatcher Katrina Brady filed suit alleging race and gender based discrimination by the department. Both women are represented by the Huntsville Attorney Richard Newton.
According to the complaint, Ellis was working part-time as a dispatcher at the Huntsville Police Department in 2023 when she became pregnant with her third child. Documents show that Ellis informed her supervisor that she needed to leave work early to make midwife appointments for prenatal care, but was instead yelled at by her supervisor, saying she needed to schedule the appointments on different days.
The complaint said an HPD dispatch sergeant also threatened Ellis's job a few months later, saying: 'You know, Allison, I might not let you come back [to work following maternity leave]once you pop out that baby.'
Records show that Ellis made an internal complaint against the sergeant because of the comment, and she met with two Huntsville Human Resources staff members about the issue in July 2024.
Court records show that Ellis began her maternity leave in October 2024.
The complaint said that Ellis had previously discussed her religious beliefs with Danley when she began working part-time in 2023. Documents said Ellis is a Seventh Day Sabbath Keeper and observes the Sabbath from Friday at sundown through Saturday. Ellis' attorney said that Danley had previously said he understood Ellis' religious observance and would not have a problem making a faith-based accommodation for her.
According to the complaint, when Ellis was set to return to work in late December 2024 and early January 2025, Danley said that the only times she could work were Friday evenings and Saturday. The complaint said this happened despite Danley knowing about her religious beliefs.
'Danley had actual knowledge of Plaintiff's religious beliefs and that Friday evenings and Saturdays were the only two (2) days she couldn't work,' the document said.
The complaint alleges this was done as retaliation for Ellis's previous complaints about her supervisor before her maternity leave.
Ultimately, Ellis said she could not return to work on that schedule, and she was not able to return to work.
'After Plaintiff re-notified Danley of her faith-based work schedule needs, opposing the discriminatory demand he made on Plaintiff regarding same, Danley refused to reinstate Plaintiff and effectively fired her for that opposing workplace discrimination,' the complaint said.
Records show Ellis is asking for compensatory and punitive damages in the case.
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