U.S. Department of Justice Obtains Settlement on Behalf of National Guard Medic for Alleged Employment Discrimination by Texas Memory Care Facility

A federal judge in Austin has approved a settlement between the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, on behalf of Army National Guard Combat Medic Specialist Maria Opara, and Texas-based University Village Memory Care (UVMC) to resolve allegations that UVMC violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The lawsuit arises from UVMC’s demotion, and ultimate termination, of Specialist Opara because she went on leave to fulfill military orders.