Veteran Nurse Sues Elevance Health for Disability Discrimination

Lawsuit alleges company failed to accommodate nurse's debilitating nerve condition and fired her as retaliation

Mar. 17, 2026 at 8:33am

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A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleges that Elevance Health and Blue Cross of California discriminated against longtime employee Priscilla Kamoi, a registered nurse who worked for the company for 17 years. The complaint claims the company failed to provide reasonable accommodations for Kamoi's severe trigeminal neuralgia, retaliated against her for requesting accommodations, and ultimately terminated her employment in May 2025.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges faced by employees with disabilities in the healthcare industry, where productivity demands can conflict with the need for reasonable accommodations. It also raises questions about how major insurance providers treat their own employees, especially veteran nurses who provide care to their members.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Kamoi developed a debilitating condition - severe trigeminal neuralgia - in late 2018, causing her excruciating pain and difficulty with basic functions like eating and speaking. Despite her exemplary 17-year performance record, the company allegedly imposed strict productivity quotas, disciplined Kamoi when her disability prevented her from meeting them, and refused her requests for accommodations like extra time and breaks. The lawsuit also alleges a pattern of retaliation, including increased monitoring and ultimately termination in May 2025.

  • Kamoi began working at Elevance Health (then Wellpoint) in August 2008.
  • Kamoi developed severe trigeminal neuralgia in late 2018.
  • Kamoi requested accommodations for her condition in a January 2023 email to supervisors.
  • Kamoi's physician submitted a formal accommodation request in May 2024, which was denied within two weeks.
  • Kamoi was fired on May 22, 2025.

The players

Priscilla Kamoi

A registered nurse who worked for Elevance Health for 17 years before being fired in May 2025.

Elevance Health, Inc.

A major health insurance provider that was formerly known as Wellpoint and is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Blue Cross of California

A subsidiary of Elevance Health that is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Helmer Friedman LLP

The law firm representing Kamoi in the lawsuit.

The Carr Law Group

The law firm co-representing Kamoi in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“The law is unambiguous: an employer cannot punish a disabled employee for being disabled, and it cannot refuse to provide a simple accommodation — like a little extra time — and then use the employee's resulting 'performance deficiency' as a pretext to fire her. That is precisely what the law against disability discrimination was designed to prevent.”

— Gregory Helmer, Attorney, Helmer Friedman LLP (PRNewswire-PRWeb)

“There is a cruel irony in a major health insurance company — one that profits from the healthcare system — showing so little regard for the health and dignity of a nurse who spent 17 years caring for its members.”

— James Carr, Attorney, The Carr Law Group (PRNewswire-PRWeb)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by employees with disabilities in the healthcare industry, where productivity demands can conflict with the legal requirement to provide reasonable accommodations. It also raises broader questions about how major insurance providers treat their own workforce, especially veteran nurses who provide care to their members.