A woman is suing NBCUniversal Media LLC, alleging she was wrongfully terminated in 2025 while on unpaid medical leave after suffering an injury at work that left her with a concussion that developed into post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sasha Parker Powell’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations include wrongful termination, retaliation, disability discrimination and failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process. Powell seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
An NBCUniversal representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought July 15.
Powell was hired in March 2023 and held the job of senior director of content experience. Her duties included product and feature development and her annual income was about $257,000. Under plaintiff’s leadership, the digital experiences and products developed by her team for the Peacock network and the 2024 Paris Olympics received significant industry recognition, including an Interactive Emmy Award and a Webby Award, the suit states.
In August 2023, Powell was injured with a concussion that developed into post-traumatic stress disorder when she bent down in her newly assigned office space and struck her head on a shelf when she arose, requiring her to take two weeks off, the suit states.
However, Powell’s symptoms worsened when she returned to work and she went on medical leave in January 2024 and a year later told human resources’ doctors wanted her to have brain surgery, the suit states. Human resources told Powell she would need to return in a month, but Powell said she could only do so with proper accommodations that she outlined, including screen time restrictions and sufficient rest breaks, the suit further states.
Powell was granted her break requests, but not the reduced screen time, the suit alleges. She also was told to travel to New York for a company meeting despite her medical restrictions, the suit states.
Powell was subsequently put on unpaid medical leave and while off work she received a letter from the company demanding reimbursement of an alleged overpayment to her and threatened with legal action if she refused, the suit alleges.
The plaintiff was terminated in March 2025 even though she was willing to return to work with her needed accommodations provided, according to the suit.
Powell has suffered lost income, employment and career opportunities and continues to grapple with anxiety, depression, embarrassment, anger, loss of enjoyment of life, fright, nervousness, grief and worry, the suit alleges.