A 1.46m-tall Bronx woman claims a New York City job counsellor got her fired from her gig as a Parks Department janitor in Queens because he thought she was too short to do the job. Sandra Petersen, 51, claims she never had a problem at work until she asked counsellor Louis Marchi about switching her assignment, the New York Post said.
"I could do the job," Ms Petersen told the Post. "The managers really liked me and know I worked hard."
Ms Peterson landed the six-month, subsidised city job in June, a position that was later extended by several months. But she hoped to work as a home health aide, and wanted to discuss the change with Mr Marchi.
"He said, 'You're too short. Are you sure you're working for Parks?'" Ms Petersen recalled from their first meeting.
In a lawsuit filed last week against the city and Marchi, Ms Petersen claims the counsellor got her booted from Parks. She is now seeking $12 million in damages for alleged discrimination.
"I lost sleep. I lost appetite. I was crying," she recalled. "I was going out of my mind. I felt humiliated."
The city Law Department had no immediate comment
The city Law Department had no immediate comment