by Rachel Ogbu

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network was recently sued by a former employee for an alleged sex and pregnancy discrimination.

Carolyn Hommel who said after she was hired in 2010 as senior director of scheduling and acquisitions at the network, co-owned by Discovery Communications she received a favorable performance review and was told she was on-track to become a vice president but she was replaced by a temporary employee when she was forced to take a medical leave during her pregnancy.

In a lawsuit filed Friday February 1 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Hommel says her duties were gradually taken away from her and given to the temporary employee, and she was later excluded from numerous meetings when she returned to the office.

Filed by Michael Bononi and Christy Granieri of Bononi Law Group, the suit alleges causes of action for sex discrimination, disability discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination, retaliation and willful failure to pay wages upon discharge or termination.

Hommel said on March 19, 2012, a month after giving birth to her daughter, she received the news that she was being laid off. She was advised to re-apply for the vice president job, but was passed over.

According to reports, she claims that her boss, Michael Garner, fabricated a performance review that “made Hommel’s job duties and responsibilities appear less ‘senior’ and therefore not a candidate for the new vice president position.” Garner also is a defendant in the suit.

Hommel claims her demotion and dismissal are a direct result of her becoming pregnant and requiring a medical leave. She is seeking unspecified damages.

An OWN representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.