FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Fargo woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Sanford Health, alleging the health system fired her to avoid covering millions of dollars in medical costs for her critically ill children.
Piper Mitchell filed the complaint in U.S. District Court in North Dakota on Thursday. The suit alleges Sanford violated multiple federal laws, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Mitchell worked as a full-time inpatient pharmacist at Sanford beginning in 2021. According to the lawsuit, two of her children were born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a rare, life-threatening congenital heart defect. The complaint states Sanford, as her employer and plan administrator, paid approximately $3 million for her first child’s medical care.
The suit alleges that after Mitchell disclosed she was pregnant with her second child, who was also diagnosed with the same condition, Sanford began building a case against her. In August 2024, she was confronted with allegations of time entry discrepancies for the first time in her employment. Mitchell denied wrongdoing and asked the company to review security camera footage to verify her hours. That request was denied, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit states Mitchell’s mental health deteriorated under the pressure. When she requested her husband be allowed to attend a follow-up HR meeting for support, that request was also denied. She was subsequently hospitalized at Prairie St. John’s Hospital for three days. Days after her release, Sanford terminated her employment on Sept. 4, 2024, citing “falsification of time records.”
Mitchell’s second child was born weeks later and died Feb. 26, 2025.
The lawsuit seeks more than $500,000 in damages, reinstatement of her position, and back pay. Mitchell’s attorneys argue Sanford’s stated reason for her termination was a pretext for unlawful retaliation.
Sanford Health has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.
This story is based on allegations contained in a federal civil complaint. Sanford Health has not responded to the lawsuit in court.
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