Rebekah Olson, a former employee of a senior living facility, has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination and wrongful termination due to her medical condition. The complaint was filed on March 24, 2025, in the Superior Court of California for the County of Ventura against Atria Senior Living, Inc., Nicole Wentworth, Brian Newman, and other unnamed defendants. Olson claims that her employer engaged in systematic discrimination and retaliation culminating in her unjust termination.
The case details Olson's employment journey with Atria Senior Living starting from June 2017. She worked diligently as a Business Office Director at the Los Posas facility in Camarillo, California, eventually being promoted to Community Business Director. Despite receiving positive performance evaluations initially, Olson alleges that after taking medical leave for depression in 2022 and again in 2024, she faced adverse actions from her employer. These included demotion without legitimate reason following her first leave and eventual termination just days before she was scheduled to return from her second leave.
Olson's complaint accuses Atria Senior Living of violating several provisions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), including discrimination based on disability (Government Code §12940(a)), failure to provide reasonable accommodation (§12940(m)), failure to engage in the interactive process (§12940(n)), retaliation (§12940(h)), harassment creating a hostile work environment (§12940(j)), and failure to prevent discrimination and harassment (§12940(k)). The lawsuit asserts that these actions were motivated by Olson's medical condition and constituted unlawful employment practices.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for lost earnings and benefits due to wrongful termination. Additionally, she demands punitive damages for willful misconduct by the defendants aimed at causing harm with conscious disregard for her rights. Olson also requests injunctive relief under California’s Business & Professions Code §17200 to prevent further violations of employment laws by Atria Senior Living.
Representing Rebekah Olson are attorneys John R. Habashy and Jack Risemberg from Lexicon Law PC based in Los Angeles. The case is identified as Case No.: 2025 CUVYT 040971 in the Ventura Superior Court.