Sandra Parra, a former Dworak-Peck School of Social Work employee sued USC in late January for wrongful termination, among other damages, alleging a “pattern and practice of terminating older workers” in favor of younger ones with less tenure. The amount she is seeking in damages is unclear. 

Parra filed the lawsuit on Jan. 20.  A former senior students programs adviser at the School of Social Work, Parra worked at the University for over 28 years until she received notice that she would be fired on Aug. 12, 2025.

In the complaint, Parra said she was laid off on the same day that she filed a workers’ compensation claim due to alleged workplace hostilities USC had subjected her to since her son’s death. The complaint contends that the University attempted to delay Parra’s workers’ compensation benefits.  

Parra’s suit also contends that after she was left with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder due to the death of her son, she requested to work from home but was denied “reasonable accommodations.” She also alleged that the administration engaged in discrimination, harassment and retaliation due to her mental disability and engagement in protected activities.  

In total, Parra’s complaint alleges 13 complaints, including disability discrimination, age discrimination and harassment. 

The University denied the claims in Parra’s lawsuit in a statement to the Daily Trojan.

“USC is proud of the work environment we provide to all of our employees,” the University wrote. “These claims have no legal merit, and we will defend ourselves against them in court.”

The complaint also alleged that Parra was initially told to work on campus during weekdays despite the medical impacts of her son’s death. She then went on medical leave and was eventually given a hybrid work schedule, but claimed in the suit that in-person work conditions based on her doctor’s recommendations were not honored. 

The suit also alleges that Parra raised concerns about asbestos exposure and “extremely cold” temperatures to the facility manager and Kim Price, the associate dean for finance and administration for the School of Social Work. The complaint contends that nothing was done. 

A Feb. 2 annual asbestos notification from the University, which identifies areas where asbestos may be present, stated that buildings older than 1981 may contain asbestos. The Ross Fisher building, which is the home of the School of Social Work, was built in 1974, and the Social Work Center was built in 2003.

A case management conference has been scheduled for Aug. 20, 2026.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated in the headline that a former faculty member is suing USC. The article was updated March 9 at 9:42 p.m. to reflect that it is a former staff member, not a faculty member who filed the lawsuit against USC. The Daily Trojan regrets this error.