Stuht on school field
San Diego educator alleges Learn4Life terminated her after 12 years of service when cancer treatment left her needing surgery and workplace accommodations.
She spent over a decade serving students while courageously battling cancer, but when she requested accommodations and medical leave, she lost her job and insurance, just when she needed them most.”
SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A longtime San Diego educator who continued working throughout extensive breast cancer treatment has filed a lawsuit against Learn4Life and affiliated entities, alleging she was terminated shortly after disclosing that she would need reconstructive knee surgery due to address damage caused by chemotherapy. — Amber Eck, Haeggquist & Eck Partner representing Stuht
Sharrene Stuht, who served Learn4Life for 12 years as a San Diego Regional Athletic Coordinator, supported students across seven locations throughout the region. Her lawsuit, filed in San Diego Superior Court, alleges disability and medical condition discrimination, failure to accommodate, interference with protected medical leave, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Stuht is represented by Amber Eck and Cameron Holl of Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, a San Diego employment law firm, in Case No. 26CU031740C filed in San Diego Superior Court on June 10, 2026. The complaint names as Defendants Western Educational Corporation, doing business as San Diego Workforce Innovation High School and operated under the brand name Learn4Life, Lifelong Learning Administration Corporation, and Educational Advancement Corporation (“Learn4Life”). You can download a copy of the Amended Complaint here. [https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:06dbc4ce-4433-432d-a653-b356bd3876a0]
Stuht Continued Working Through Breast Cancer Treatment
Stuht was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2023. She endured chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, and additional treatment while continuing to perform her job duties and, when necessary, working remotely. By early 2025, Stuht was in remission and preparing athletic programs for the upcoming year. According to the lawsuit, after informing Learn4Life in May that chemotherapy had caused significant knee damage requiring reconstructive surgery, Learn4Life terminated her employment on June 2 "No employee should have to choose between their health and their livelihood. Ms. Stuht spent over a decade serving students while courageously battling cancer, but when she requested accommodations and medical leave, she lost her job and her insurance, just when she needed them most. We look forward to litigating her claims in court." Said Amber Eck, Haeggquist & Eck Partner representing Stuht.
Facing the loss of both her job and employer-sponsored health insurance while managing the lasting effects of cancer treatment, Stuht pleaded with Learn4Life to allow her to continue to work for the school in any capacity. She offered several alternatives, including accepting a pay reduction, transitioning to part-time work, or transferring to another available position.
The lawsuit alleges those alternatives were rejected.
Learn4Life claimed they didn’t have the money to continue to employ her, and they “didn’t want to cut a teacher.” Stuht contends those explanations were pretextual, and that her cancer-related condition, anticipated surgery, and need for medical leave and accommodations were the actual reasons for her termination.
Indeed, the Complaint cites to Learn4Life’s non-profit tax filings to allege it brought in $451 million in government funding last year, that it has paid $328 million of taxpayer dollars to its private corporation, Lifelong Learning Administration Corporation, and that Lifelong Learning has paid millions to its executives and millions more in lobbying.
"After enduring chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation while continuing to serve students, Ms. Stuht expected support from her employers, not termination. Her case demonstrates how important California’s employment laws are when workers require disability accommodations or medical leave," said Cameron Holl, Associate Attorney, who represents Stuht.
Lawsuit Alleges Broader Concerns
The lawsuit raises issues beyond Stuht’s individual termination.
The amended complaint alleges that other San Diego-area Learn4Life employees were also terminated after requiring disability-related or medical accommodations. The complaint contends that Stuht's experience was part of a broader practice affecting employees who needed medical leave or workplace accommodations.
Stuht's legal team is seeking to hold Western Educational Corporation / San Diego Workforce Innovation High School, Lifelong Learning Administration Corporation, and Educational Advancement Corporation accountable for the unlawful conduct and employment law violations alleged in the complaint.
The case is pending in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Case No. 26CU031740C.
What You Can Do
HAE is continuing to investigate violation of the employment or other laws by Western Educational Corporation / San Diego Workforce Innovation High School, Lifelong Learning Administration Corporation, and Educational Advancement Corporation. If you have information regarding this investigation, or if you are aware of such potential violations, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Amber Eck at (619) 342-8000 or ambere@haelaw.com.
About Haeggquist & Eck, LLP
Haeggquist & Eck is a nationally recognized leader in employment, consumer and shareholder rights law. The firm represents employees, consumers and shareholders in individual and class actions, and has helped them recover more than $1 billion in value since 2008. HAE handles a broad range of employment matters, including discrimination, disability discrimination, medical leave and failure to provide accommodations, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, harassment and hostile work environment, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other civil rights matters throughout California.
Haeggquist & Eck is committed to standing up for employees, survivors, consumers and shareholders, and holding employers and institutions accountable when their rights are violated.
To learn more about HAE, our attorneys, or our areas of practice, please visit haelaw.com.
Amber Eck
Haeggquist & Eck, LLP
ambere@haelaw.com
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