ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri recently ruled that a former surgical technician at St. Luke's Hospital whose suit against the hospital for allegedly violating the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was dismissed must pay more than $1,500 in costs to the hospital.
In the June 11 ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White said he found claims of financial hardship made by Karen Beckley, who had sued the hospital, were insufficient and ordered her to pay $1,658.35 to the defendant in the case, St. Luke’s Episcopal-Presbyterian Hospitals, doing business as St. Luke’s Hospital.
A May 2018 court filing said Beckley filed her lawsuit in March 2107 against the hospital in St. Louis County Circuit Court claiming retaliation and violation of the FMLA regarding her job termination in March 2015. The hospital then had the case removed to district court.
White granted the hospital's motion for summary judgment in May 2018 and dismissed all of Beckley's claims, the court filing said. The hospital then filed its bill of costs on June 19, 2018, seeking $1,658.35.
Beckley filed a memorandum in opposition to the costs on July 3, 2018, and on July 9, 2018, she filed a notice of appeal with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the district court's decision.
The hospital sought $400 for the filing fee and $1,258.35 for deposition costs incurred in its bill of costs, court filings said.
Beckley asked the court exercise discretion and deny of the defendant’s bill of costs, alleging that if the court awards the costs to the defendant, she would face “severe financial hardship” and that it would be an unfair burden to her, the ruling said.
"Plaintiff provided no evidence she will suffer severe financial hardship if the court awards costs to defendant," White wrote in the June 11 ruling. "Without any evidence of plaintiff's alleged financial troubles, the court has no basis to evaluate plaintiff's ability to pay."
White said the hospital is owed $1,238.35 for deposition costs and $400 for filing fees, but did not authorize taxing Beckley for the e-transcript and delivery expenses of $32.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case No. 4:17-CV-01369