A Woodburn woman says she is the victim of racism after having an insurance claim denied following gallbladder surgery.

kgw.com graphic

Leticia Correa-Perez entered the Silverton hospital in October, 2004. She claims her doctors ordered an emergency surgery to remove gallstones. Correa-Perez says she and her family scrapped together $39,578 to pay for the operation. She was a dependent on her husband’s insurance policy and believed the surgical costs would be reimbursed.

In a lawsuit recently filed against her husband’s former employer, Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., Correa-Perez states her claim was denied due to a pre-existing condition. However, she alleges racism was also involved.

In her suit Correa-Perez denies a pre-existing condition caused her gallstones.

She claims when she tried to challenge the denial, “Fleetwood’s representative responded that ‘Hispanics like to have surgeries when they have insurance’”.

Correa-Perez fought to have the denial overturned, but failed. Now Portland law firm Perkins Couie is on her side. The firm is taking the case without charge. Attorney Erick Haynie says, “People who are given promises and contracts should not be deprived of those rights because they’re Hispanic. It’s not the American way and it’s not what the law allows”.

KGW Newchannel 8 sought comment from Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. We were told the company does not comment on pending litigation.