Nurse Practitioner Files Lawsuit to Hold CHOP Accountable for Willful Violations of His Civil Rights

Malvern, PA –Attorney Julie A. Uebler of Uebler Law LLC has filed a disability discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on behalf of Laurence J. Sheridan, a qualified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who, according to the lawsuit, worked as a valued member of CHOP’s Behavioral Health clinical team for over two years before his unlawful firing. 

KEY CLAIMS IN THE LAWSUIT:

• Willful Failure: The lawsuit asserts that CHOP knowingly and willfully refused to prevent discrimination and retaliation against Mr. Sheridan when a newly hired attending psychiatrist did not want to deal with the “burden” (real or imagined) of working with Mr. Sheridan after he disclosed disabilities and asked for the same accommodations that had been easily and effectively implemented for over two years.
• Established Qualifications: Prior to the arrival of the new attending psychiatrist in September of 2024, Mr. Sheridan delivered exemplary psychiatric care to kids in crisis as a valuable member of the emergency department’s clinical staff. In August 2024, another attending psychiatrist, who had been working with him for years, described Mr. Sheridan as “an incredible partner, collaborator and colleague,” and nominated him for CHOP’s Physician Partnering Award.
• Discrimination and Retaliation:
  • Unlawful Suspension: According to the Complaint, CHOP failed to enforce its own policies against disability discrimination and retaliation when it suspended Mr. Sheridan in response to a baseless and inflammatory accusation from the new attending psychiatrist when other similarly situated clinical providers would not have been suspended. Then, the lawsuit alleges, CHOP imposed a 30-day “performance plan” upon Mr. Sheridan’s return to work from the suspension, even though it had not reasonably investigated the accusations.
  • Unlawful Termination: Upon his return to work from the suspension, Mr. Sheridan expressed concern to his immediate supervisor and CHOP’s human resources partner about meeting the new psychiatrist’s expectations and asked for help in doing so. Instead of providing the requested assistance, according to the lawsuit, CHOP fired Mr. Sheridan just one week into the 30-day performance plan, for alleged “insubordination” without even speaking to him about the situation

"Hospitals and healthcare institutions have a legal obligation to prevent discrimination and retaliation against qualified employees with disabilities who seek reasonable accommodations in the workplace,” said Uebler. “We want the healthcare institutions entrusted to care for our most at- risk youth to employ the best qualified and dedicated clinical staff, and CHOP’s willful failure to comply with federal and local law not only harmed Mr. Sheridan but also deprived our community of a skilled and dedicated medical provider for kids facing mental health crises.” 

The lawsuit, which includes claims for disability discrimination and retaliation pursuant to both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance, seeks damages to compensate Mr. Sheridan for his monetary losses, as well as his emotional and reputational harm, and punitive damages to hold CHOP accountable for its willful violation of Mr. Sheridan’s civil rights.

The case is captioned Sheridan v. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Civil Action Case No. 5:26-cv-07660-CH.   

Any employees who believe they have been subjected to retaliation and/or wrongful termination similar to that of the plaintiff in this action may contact Uebler Law LLC to discuss their own legal options. Contact the law firm at ueblerlaw.com/contact-us. 

Uebler Law LLC is dedicated to pursuing justice by holding employers accountable for their abuse of power, including willful violations of this country’s civil rights laws. The Firm’s attorneys also provide advice and negotiation services to individuals in Pennsylvania seeking to protect their rights or maximize their employment opportunities in the workplace. For more information, visit ueblerlaw.com. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.