A recent legal filing claims that an individual was terminated from her job after seeking medical leave for a cardiac condition, raising questions about how local government employers handle disability accommodations under federal and state law. The complaint was filed by Becky Mietz in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on April 1, 2026, naming Bay County as the defendant.
According to the complaint, Becky Mietz accepted a full-time position as a Case Management Worker with the Bay County Department on Aging in July 2024 and began work on August 6, 2024. Her immediate supervisor was Jessica Somerlott, Senior Services Manager, who reported to Director Elizabeth Eurich. Mietz states that she performed her duties satisfactorily and received praise for her work performance.
The dispute centers around events beginning in October 2024 when Mietz experienced cardiac-related symptoms and used sick time to cover her absence on October 18. She notified her supervisors that she had been hospitalized over the weekend of October 20 and needed additional time off to follow up with her primary care physician. On October 21, her doctor took her off work through October 27 due to her health condition—a dysfunctional heart valve—which Mietz says constitutes a disability because it substantially limited major life activities.
While on leave, Mietz communicated updates about her diagnosis and ongoing need for further testing to both Somerlott and Eurich. She provided updated physician notes as requested by management, including one extending her leave through November 3. On October 29, Director Eurich advised Mietz that she could request an unpaid personal leave under Section 14.2 of the collective bargaining agreement governing managers, professionals, and supervisors at Bay County.
Mietz submitted a written request for unpaid personal leave from November 4, 2024 through February 28, 2025 along with supporting medical documentation stating she would be unable to work until March 1, 2025. On November 7, Tiffany Jerry from the Personnel Department informed Mietz in writing that “After careful consideration of the ongoing needs of the department and your request, we are unable to grant your request.” The letter continued: “Based on the documentation you provided, you are unable to perform the functions of your job until at least March 1, 2025 therefore…your last date of employment will be considered November 7, 2024.” The complaint asserts that no specific reasons were given as to why accommodation could not be made or why policy allowed denial of unpaid leave under these circumstances.
Mietz’s attorneys argue that Bay County’s actions constitute discrimination based on disability under both federal law (42 U.S.C. §1983) and Michigan’s Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act (M.C.L §37.1102). The complaint states: “Defendant refused to accommodate and discriminated against Plaintiff based on her disability,” further alleging that any reasons offered by Bay County are “pretextual in nature” or “either not based in fact” or too insignificant to justify termination.
The legal filing outlines two counts: violation of civil rights under federal law—specifically referencing equal protection guarantees—and violation of Michigan’s anti-discrimination statute regarding employment practices related to disabilities unrelated to job performance capability.
As relief from the court, Mietz seeks judgment “in an amount in excess of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in addition to costs, interest, and attorney fees along with any and all legal and/or equitable relief this Court deems just.” She claims both economic damages—including lost wages and benefits—and non-economic damages such as emotional distress resulting from loss of employment.
Attorneys Victor J. Mastromarco Jr. (P34564) and Kevin J. Kelly (P74546) of The Mastromarco Firm represent Becky Mietz in this matter; their office is located at 1024 N. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. The case is identified as Case No. 4:26-cv-11073-SDK-KGA.
Source: 426cv11073_Becky_Mietz_v_County_of_Bay_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
