Boss allegedly advises black employee facing racism at work to “take the abuse” and fires him when he complains about mistreatment.

David ManesLawsuits & Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

African American Employee Files Lawsuit against Teal’s Express, Inc. for Racist Treatment and Discrimination

Willie, now a client of KM&A, faithfully worked for Teal’s Express as a truck driver for just over five years. Willie was a dedicated, model employee, but he noticed that white employees with less experience and time at the company received better driving routes than him. According to Willie, he was advised to drive 22 consecutive hours, which is over the legal limit, while his white colleagues never drove over the legal limit.

Because Willie feared being fired, he looked past these noted disparities and just did his job. But, finally, the mistreatment got under his skin and Willie spoke with management. Willie’s suspicions of racism were confirmed when he allegedly learned that Mr. Teals, the owner of Teal’s Express, didn’t want a black driver on local routes because “local customers preferred a Caucasian driver.”

The racism Willie experienced at work extended beyond inequities in driving routes. Willie asserted that he overheard fellow workers call him “a typical black man with a bunch of kids to take care of” and someone told Willie that he dressed “ghetto,” even though he wore company-issued attire. Exhausted from the ongoing abuse, Willie sought help from the management and Mr. Teals, but the only answer he claims to have received was to “take the abuse” so he could keep his job.

According to Willie, he continued to be overlooked for better driving routes and received threats of job loss when he requested a day off. Of course, his fellow Caucasian drivers did not receive this same treatment. For one final time, Willie approached his boss to complain about the obvious race discrimination, but his boss allegedly exploded, yelling at him “get [your] black ass out.”

The racist treatment allowed and even encouraged by Teal’s Express against a dependable and hard-working employee is horrifying, not to mention illegal. Although Teal’s Express denies these claims, the law protects employees like Willie. KM&A challenges companies that blatantly disregard employee rights provided by federal and state law.

Full text of this complaint, as filed with the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, is available at docket no: 3:17-cv-01052-MEM

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC is an employment law firm with principal offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, serving all counties in Pennsylvania, focusing on employment law, business law, litigation, and civil issues. KM&A clients include employees, small businesses, parties in litigation, and people with a variety of legal issues.

For more information about this case, contact Attorney Colin Saltry at 215-475-3544 or at cs@lawkm.com or Attorney Jonathan Chase at 215-475-3504 or at jwc@lawkm.com.

NOTICE: All information contained in this statement comes from the Complaint which has been filed as a public record with the court. As dedicated civil rights attorneys, we strongly believe in the public value of telling our clients’ stories: violators can be held accountable, and other silent victims can feel empowered to stand up for their legal rights. Although we make every attempt to verify our clients’ claims, note that the defendant is expected to oppose our client’s position, and the court has not ruled one way or the other as of the date of this statement.