NEW ORLEANS – A former compliance officer for Louisiana’s Board of Medical Examiners, in a federal lawsuit filed last month, accuses the agency of “purposeful discrimination” and retaliation.
Plaintiff Paula Pigford, a resident of Jefferson Parish, filed her lawsuit last month in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
In her nine-page filing, she accuses the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, or LSBME, of racial discrimination. Pigford is white. LSBME is responsible for the licensing of physicians.
“Following her protected activity, Plaintiff’s employment was retaliated against and was ultimately terminated for reasons which were false and which were pretextual for the discriminatory and retaliatory conduct of the Defendant against Plaintiff,” her complaint states.
Pigford started working for the agency in September 2018, as a Registered Nurse Compliance Officer. She alleges she began experiencing racial discrimination when Dr. Michael Francis started work at LSBME as its assistant director of investigations in February 2022. Francis is Black.
In early 2022, she claims she made a verbal complaint of racial discrimination, but no action was taken. Following her complaint, the discrimination and hostile work environment “intensified,” she contends.
So much so that Pigford claims she was “compelled” to file a written complaint in September 2023.
“Plaintiff was promised by Theresa Warren, LSBME Human Resources, that her complaint would be investigated. However, no remedial relief was provided to Plaintiff nor was Plaintiff notified of the final results of any investigation.
“Instead, Plaintiff was subjected to retaliation.”
Pigford alleges the discrimination and retaliation culminated in denial of leave without pay in November 2023, and denial of pay increases that were awarded to everyone but Pigford.
In July 2024, Pigford’s attorney sent a letter regarding her complaints in an effort to resolve the matter. Additionally, Pigford filed a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Louisiana Commission on Human Rights. The charge was later amended due to the board’s alleged retaliation and termination of Pigford’s employment.
In addition, in June 2025, Pigford filed a Civil Service Appeal regarding her termination in May.
In August 2025, LSBME filed a request for rescission of action with the Civil Service Appeal Board and returned Pigford to work on Sept. 8, 2025. She was awarded back pay from May 11 to Sept. 7, 2025.
However, days before her return to work, Pigford alleges she received an email from the agency’s HR specialist advising her she was again placed on suspension pending investigation.
On Sept. 9, she received a notice proposing a disciplinary action of dismissal; her response was due Sept. 16. She timely submitted a response.
On Sept. 19, she received three checks from LSBME; however, the amounts were incorrect. The hours calculated were incorrect, the deducted benefits were incorrect, and the paycheck paid did not indicate the correct leave accrual.
Then – while Pigford’s initial EEOC charge was pending – on Sept. 26, she was dismissed from her employment for reasons that, she argues, “were false and pre-textual.”
Pigford claims she received three checks in October, but says “there is no clear indication what the payment of two of these checks represent.”
“There are multiple discrepancies with the checks issued and based on Plaintiff calculations, the amount Plaintiff is owed is around $3,000.00,” her complaint states.
“Plaintiff asserts the incorrect payments to her were also in retaliation for her protected activity.”
Pigford seeks monetary damages; damages for past and future economic and non-economic losses; and an award for attorney’s fees.
Shreveport law firm Downer Jones Marino & Wilhite LLC is representing her in the lawsuit.
