WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Palm Beach County employee has sued The Joseph L. Morse Health Center, Inc., alleging she was suspended, denied pay, and treated differently than a co-worker outside her protected classes during an internal investigation at the facility.
The case, Martha Jean v. The Joseph L. Morse Health Center, Inc., Case No. 502026CA003352XXXAMB, was filed March 24, 2026, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida. The complaint was filed by attorney Anthony M. Georges-Pierre of Remer, Georges-Pierre, & Hoogerwoerd, PLLC. No defense law firm is listed in the complaint.
According to the complaint, Jean is a Palm Beach County resident who worked for the defendant in Palm Beach County as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA. She alleges the lawsuit is brought under the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 and claims discrimination based on race and national origin, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. She also asserts a negligence count tied to the workplace conditions and the handling of the reported incident. The allegations in the complaint have not been proven in court.
Jean alleges she began working for The Joseph L. Morse Health Center on or about Feb. 1, 2014. The complaint states she is Black and Haitian, and that her direct supervisor was the director of nursing, identified as Kayla. Her duties included helping patients with daily activities such as showering, changing clothes, and laundry.
The complaint says Jean worked her scheduled shift on or about Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, and was off the following day. She alleges Kayla then called her and said human resources was conducting an investigation and that Jean had to stay home until it was completed. Jean claims she was later removed from the work schedule and, after not hearing back, contacted human resources. According to the complaint, the HR director first said she was unaware of any suspension, then later told Jean she had been suspended over an incident reported by a patient.
Jean alleges the reported incident involved her and two other CNAs, Gina Pouponneau and Maria Ramos. The complaint says the patient reported that a staff member said, “I know you do not like me because I am Black. You will like Maria because you are the same color as her.” Jean claims that although three CNAs were allegedly involved, only she and Pouponneau, both identified in the complaint as Haitian, were suspended. Ramos, identified in the complaint as Hispanic, was not suspended or otherwise disciplined, according to the filing.
The complaint says Jean was told on or about Oct. 8, 2025, that she could return to work and that she would be paid for the days she had been scheduled but could not work during the suspension. Jean alleges human resources later told her she would not be paid for those missed days. The complaint further states that Pouponneau was terminated on or about Oct. 9, 2025, while Ramos was never suspended or disciplined. Jean alleges she was treated less favorably than a similarly situated employee outside her protected classes and that the stated reason for her suspension was pretextual.
In the suit, Jean seeks damages including back pay, front pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages, attorney’s fees, costs, and other relief. She also demands a jury trial.
The original complaint, Martha Jean v. The Joseph L. Morse Health Center, Inc., Case No. 502026CA003352XXXAMB, as filed March 24, 2026, with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, can be viewed here.
Boca Post monitors civil filings submitted in Palm Beach County courts as part of its legal desk reporting. Readers can browse recent cases in our Boca Raton lawsuits coverage.
