A significant legal battle has emerged as a former employee takes on a major e-commerce giant, alleging serious workplace discrimination. On January 5, 2026, Amazon.com Services LLC filed a Notice of Removal in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, following a complaint lodged by Carmella Woodard on November 5, 2025. The complaint accuses Amazon of disability, race, and gender discrimination under federal laws.
The case began when Carmella Woodard filed her lawsuit in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia. Woodard’s allegations against Amazon include claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. She asserts that she faced discriminatory practices at her workplace based on her disability, race, and gender. According to court documents, Woodard also claims retaliation from Amazon following her complaints about these discriminatory practices.
Woodard’s lawsuit seeks substantial damages amounting to $28,535,000.00. Her claims include compensation for lost wages and emotional distress resulting from alleged discrimination and retaliation by Amazon. In response to these accusations, Amazon moved to transfer the case to federal court citing both federal question jurisdiction and diversity jurisdiction. The company argues that since Woodard’s claims are grounded in federal law—specifically the ADA and Title VII—the case is rightly within federal jurisdiction.
Amazon further justifies its request for removal by highlighting the diversity of citizenship between itself and Woodard. While Woodard is a resident of Georgia, Amazon is incorporated in Delaware with its principal place of business in Washington state. This distinction meets the criteria for diversity jurisdiction under U.S.C § 1332.
In their Notice of Removal filing, Amazon emphasizes that they have adhered to all procedural requirements for transferring the case from state to federal court within the stipulated timeframe after receiving Woodard’s initial complaint on December 5, 2025. The company denies any liability but acknowledges that based on Woodard’s allegations and claimed damages exceeding $75,000—a threshold for federal cases—the matter warrants federal adjudication.
The legal proceedings are set against a backdrop where Amazon must defend itself against serious allegations while maintaining its stance that it does not owe any liability towards Woodard’s claims. As this case unfolds in the Northern District of Georgia’s Atlanta Division under Case No. 1:26-cv-00035-WMR-JKL presided over by Judge William M Ray II (WMR), it will be closely watched given its implications on employment law interpretations related to discrimination.
Representing Amazon is attorney Dionysia Johnson-Massie from Littler Mendelson P.C., a law firm known for handling complex employment litigation cases. Meanwhile, Carmella Woodard is proceeding pro se without formal legal representation.
Source: 126cv00035_Carmella_Woodard_v_Amazon_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Georgia.pdf