A former advertising director at Body + Soul is accusing parent company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia of firing her because she broke her spine and went on temporary disability. That's cold, even for Martha.

Hunter at Fishbowl NY did some *actual reporting* on this story, and he seems to confirm the basics:

  • Kiki Paris was the magazine's director of national accounts, responsible for bringing in major advertisers, and was widely credited as a star on the staff, with glowing performance reviews.
  • She got hit by a car and broke her spine. She had surgery and "placed in a halo neckbrace for 12 weeks." The company started urging her to work from home. She did, after seven weeks, against her doctor's advice.
  • Then company HR people came to her home and stone cold fired her! "Paris says when she asked why she was being laid off Bruce told her 'I can only say it's corporate restructuring.'"
  • Now she is suing their asses.

Far be it from us to pass judgment without having all the facts, but you can't put something like this past Martha Stewart, who is, by the way, our nemesis. [FBNY]