Former staffer sues county over alleged disability discrimination

A former Monroe County social services administrator has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the county of disability discrimination and retaliation after she says she was forced to resign while caring for her severely disabled grandson.

Lisset Bautista, who worked nearly 10 years for Monroe County and most recently served as senior administrator of operations in the Social Services Department, filed the complaint April 21 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She is seeking damages and a jury trial.

According to the lawsuit, Bautista requested a temporary work-from-home arrangement in June 2025 after her grandson's in-home behavioral therapist abruptly stopped providing services, creating what she described as a one-month caregiving crisis. Bautista says her grandson has severe autism, other permanent disabilities and requires around-the-clock care. Her husband also has serious health issues and could not manage the child's care alone.

According to the filing, Bautista asked to work remotely two to three days per week for one month while remaining available to report to the office if needed. She said the arrangement was similar to remote work already approved for dozens of other county employees.

The lawsuit claims Social Services Director Cathy Crane denied the request without reviewing Bautista's proposed coverage plan and cited a remote work policy that did not yet exist. Bautista also alleges Senior Administrator Jenna Tuttle warned her she would be fired if she took the request to County Administrator Christine Hurley.

Bautista says county staff later shared confidential details about her family's medical situation with coworkers and that on her final day, Crane made discriminatory remarks questioning whether Bautista would be "changing diapers" while working from home and whether she had been "milking" sick leave.

She resigned July 11, 2025, with her last day on July 25, arguing the county created conditions so intolerable she had no reasonable choice but to leave. The lawsuit says she lost her $98,000 salary, health insurance and life insurance coverage and was later denied unemployment benefits after the county allegedly misrepresented the reason for her resignation.

Bautista filed an EEOC complaint and received a right-to-sue notice on April 8, 2026. Her lawsuit alleges associational discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, retaliation and interference with protected rights. She is seeking back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, attorney's fees and other relief.

Monroe County has not yet filed a response in court. The case is expected to move through the federal court process unless the parties reach a settlement.