A dental hygienist/assistant filed a lawsuit against a prosthodontist and dental practice in California, accusing them of wrongfully terminating her due to a disability, according to a story published on April 7 in the Northern California Record.
Fabiola Zamora filed on March 24 a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, against her former employer, Dr. Ashwini Bhave, a prosthodontist, and Bay Area Dental Specialists in California.
In addition to claiming wrongful termination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Zamora is accusing Bhave and Bay Area Dental Specialists of multiple labor violations, including failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation for asserting her rights under various labor codes, according to the story.
Zamora, who began working as a dental hygienist/assistant at Bay Area Dental Specialists in 2017, claims that she was wrongfully fired due to disability discrimination after reporting work-related injuries that occurred in October 2024. She alleges that she requested medical accommodation, but Bhave and the practice ignored it.
Also, Zamora claims that the practice and Bhave failed to provide her with medical treatment via workers' compensation. She was fired in January 2025, according to the story.
Additionally, Zamora claims she was consistently denied proper wages, including overtime compensation, as well as meals and rest breaks. Zamora is seeking a jury trial, as well as general damages for emotional distress, special damages to cover medical expenses, punitive damages, and attorney costs and fees.
