Terri Estepp, a former employee of Huntington Bank in Detroit, alleges she was dismissed from her job while on family medical leave, caring for her terminally ill daughter. Estepp, who had been with the bank for three decades, had exhausted her vacation and paid time off to look after her daughter, Samantha, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in April 2023.
Samantha’s health deteriorated a year after her diagnosis. With no more vacation days left, Estepp utilized four weeks of her 12-week entitlement under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The FMLA is a federal law that mandates employers to provide unpaid, job-protected leave for employees dealing with medical or family emergencies.
Upon her return to work, Estepp informed her superiors that she needed additional time off to care for Samantha. She alleges that she was terminated from her position that same day, after years of dedicated service to the bank. Estepp was taken aback by the sudden dismissal, especially since her previous supervisor had suggested she apply for FMLA leave to ensure she could take time off as needed to care for Samantha.
The situation took a more heartbreaking turn when Samantha blamed herself for her mother’s job loss. Samantha passed away from breast cancer in 2024 at the age of 31. Estepp shared that her daughter’s death occurred just ten days after her dismissal from the bank.
Estepp maintains that she was not provided with a reason for her termination. Her lawyer, Sarah Prescott, has since filed a lawsuit against Huntington Bank. The suit alleges that Estepp was fired for using her FMLA leave. Prescott highlighted Estepp’s significant role at the bank, representing over 6,000 businesses and families.
Estepp hopes that her case will prevent similar incidents from happening to others. A spokesperson for Huntington Bank expressed condolences for Samantha’s passing but refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation. The bank stated its commitment to complying with all employment laws, including the FMLA, and insisted that it acted appropriately in Estepp’s case.