GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A second lawsuit in a month alleging race discrimination has been filed against Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital by a nurse who says she was not allowed to care for a patient because she is black.

Timika Foster, an African-American nurse who has worked for the hospital for 13 years, filed the lawsuit Thursday, Dec. 19, in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.

In October 2011, she says she was told by her supervisor not to care for a patient because “no black employees were allowed to care for” that patient.

Foster says she complained to the director of nursing, but was told only, “What do you want me to do about it?” She says she received the same response from the vice president of clinical services.

The lawsuit also alleges that Foster was denied a promotion to nursing supervisor and she believes the decision was based on her race and complaints of racial discrimination.

Attorney Julie A. Gafkay, of Frankenmuth, filed the lawsuit on Foster’s behalf.

Gafkay also filed a race-discrimination suit Nov. 27 for Jill Crane, an African-American nursing supervisor at Mary Free Bed who says she was told she could not care for a patient because of her race. The two lawsuits stem involve the same patient, she said.

Related: Nurse behind lawsuit wants to be 'agent of change'

In her lawsuit, Crane says she was told in October 2011 that a male patient had been admitted and the family “did not want any black caregivers caring for him.” She says she objected to the directive but was told by the director of nursing the patient’s wishes would be honored.

As a supervisor, Crane said she was required to tell staff members that African-American caregivers could not go into the patient’s room. She also alleges she was denied promotions because of her race and her complaints of racial discrimination.

In response to the lawsuit, Mary Free Chief Executive Officer Kent Riddle sent a letter to staff, the board of trustees and the guild.

"I am very proud of Mary Free Bed's commitment to diversity and inclusion," he wrote. "When I joined the board of trustees nearly ten years ago, I was then, and continue to be, impressed with our diversity hotline, minority scholarship program, hiring and promotion practices, staff diversity education, and our century-long culture of honoring and supporting diversity. As you know, Mary Free Bed simply doesn't tolerate discrimination and has a formal process in place to deal with employee concerns.



We need to trust the legal process and let the facts speak for themselves in this sensitive situation. In the meantime, we must not allow these cases to distract us from our primary commitment to our patients and to each other."

Sue Thoms covers health care for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at sthoms1@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.