The owner of a Christian-based Macomb Township child care facility is accused by four fired employees of creating a toxic, retaliatory work environment through racial and religious bias, a violation of state employment law.

Laura Warrick and her business, God’s Love Overpowers Child Care LLC, located near 21 Mile and Garfield roads, were sued earlier this month in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens by Carla Baldrica, Elizabeth Schwartz, Megan Hunt and Tracey Penzien for her alleged actions and comments.

Warrick allegedly required to participate in off-the-clock workplace “prayers,” made racist comments about and treated Black clients worse than others, and fired two of the employees for seeking to take paid time off. Three of them were fired on the same day last August.

“Laura Warrick’s behavior towards both her patrons and employees of her business is unacceptable and illegal,” said the plaintiff’s attorney, Channing Robinson-Holmes of Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers. “We hope not only to hold her and God’s Love Overpowers Child Care accountable, but also to illuminate to Macomb County parents this business’ discriminatory practices. Families are placing their trust into Warwick, and they deserve transparency.”

The plaintiffs accuse Warrick and her operation of religious and racial discrimination in violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act; violation of public policy, and retaliation via violation of the Workers’ Disability Compensation Act.

The plaintiffs said in a joint statement: “While working at God’s Love Overpowers Child Care, we were passionate about our positions and the children we taught. We would all still be there, continuing to teach, if it weren’t for the mistreatment we were subjected to. We seek justice for ourselves and to ensure that no other employee, parent, or child endures the shameful and discriminatory behavior we faced.”

Warrick did not respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit’s alleges, “Laura Warrick, accountable to no one but herself at God’s Love Overpowers Child Care, created an environment rife with racism, discrimination and retaliation.”

The plaintiffs claim Warrick “created a hostile environment” at God’s Love by making many racist comments about Blacks and treated those clients “demonstrably worse” than white clients.

Baldrica, 48, of Macomb Township, who is Black, said she was subjected to a racially hostile atmosphere and was fired partly due to her race. She worked as a “lead teacher,” starting in May 2024.

The lawsuit says Warrick:

– used a vulgar racial term within earshot of child patrons at the center;

– called Child Protective Services on “at least two African American families” but did not contact CPS about white families “despite having grounds to do so:”

– “threatened to turn away” a Black family if they could not provide a cot for their child’s afternoon nap while cots were provided to white families;

– called police during an interaction with a Black family “without any provocation;”

– told a Black woman she is “just a black baby momma;”

– blamed Black families multiple times for causing issues at the facility; and

– referred to Blacks as “those people” and “ghetto;”

Those alleged actions and comments would primarily apply to Baldrica’s case, Robinson-Holmes said.

Warrick fired Baldrica and Hunt after they were injured at work, and Hunt wanted to take accrued paid time off due to her injury, the lawsuit says.

Hunt, 35, of Harrison Township, was a lead teacher and started in September 2024. She was injured last July 29 and told by a physician to not work until Aug. 4. But when Hunt informed Warrick the day of her injury of her intent, Warrick immediately fired her, according to the lawsuit..

Baldrica was injured in May 2025 and was told by Warrick she had a “demon of offense” and did not provide workers’ compensation information. Baldrica was fired last Aug. 6.

Warrick also failed to provide paid time off to employees despite being required to by the state Earned Sick Time Act, the lawsuit alleges.

Regarding prayer, Schwartz was fired last Aug. 6 after she failed to attend a “mandatory” prayer session at work last Aug, 5, the lawsuit says. Schwartz, 35, of Chesterfield Township, was an assistant director, in charge of various operations.

Last July 20, Warrick texted employees, “Everyone needs to be in to work tomorrow for 8am even if your (sic) scheduled at 8:30. Prayer at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow.

“Mandatory for ALL employees tomorrow.”

Warrick did not instruct employees to “clock in,” the lawsuit says.

At a prayer meeting, Warrick scolded about employees’ “foolishness” and “craziness” after seeing them in photos posted on social media of themselves drinking at a bar more than once, the lawsuit alleges.

“I saw the craziness on Facebook this weekend and the Lord was mad,” Warrick said, according to the lawsuit. “I can not tell you what to do on your days off, that is not my place. But I will tell you if you’re going to work here, you better keep your foolishness to yourself and when God calls you a fool it is the highest form of insult.”

On Aug. 4, she informed employees of a mandatory meeting the next day. “Mandatory meeting and prayer tomorrow at 7:30 am. If you want your job you will attend.”

Penzien, 51, Chesterfield Township, an assistant teacher, told Warrick on Aug. 6 she planned to take off last Aug. 7 and 8 “to care for her mental health,” the lawsuit says.

Warrick terminated Penzien on Aug. 6, though paperwork completed by Warrick says Penzien quit, the lawsuit says.

Robinson-Holmes, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said they have learned about “a couple of” families who may have been impacted by Warrick’s actions or comments that could be subject of another lawsuit.

“My clients came forward because they are hoping to shed light on the discriminatory practices and provide accountability for Laura Warrick’s unlawful actions, and that’s on behalf of themselves but also on behalf of individuals that are still employed there, and the families there,” she said. “We think it’s important for this information to come to light because of the continuing vulnerabilities of the people at the child care.”

She said she believes the facilty employs about 10 people.

The plaintiffs are seeking to be restored to their prior or comparable position, compensatory damages, economic and emotional damages, reimbursement for lawyer and legal costs, and “any other relief the court deems just and equitable.”

The case has been assigned to Judge James Maceroni.