Boss Allegedly Calls Black Women “Dirty,” Uses N-Word, Then Fires Black Worker, Prompting Lawsuit

David ManesLawsuits & Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

African American Worker Files Federal Lawsuit Against TAKTL Alleging Racist Firing

Tony, now a KM&A client, long suspected that his supervisor was racist.  During the 6 months that Tony worked as a Production Assistant at TAKTL’s facility in Glenshaw, he claims he overheard that supervisor say derogatory things about African Americans – on at least one occasion, the supervisor broadcasted that he didn’t like black women because they were “dirty.” As a black man, Tony tried to keep his head down and do his job.

The workplace racism came to a head in January 2016. The supervisor wrongly accused Tony of violating company policy, and suspended Tony for an entire day. When Tony returned from the suspension, he stood up for himself and explained that he had in fact followed company policy. The supervisor couldn’t stomach Tony questioning his authority and told him, “If you don’t like what I’m doing, you can just quit!”

According to Tony, the supervisor angrily stormed away toward the manager’s office and said, “You’re fucking done here, you nigger.”Tony didn’t want to leave because he needed the job and couldn’t afford to be without it. He insisted that he just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding that lead to him being wrongly suspended for a day. At that point according to Tony, the supervisor angrily stormed away toward the manager’s office and said, “You’re fucking done here, you nigger.”

The manager immediately sided with the supervisor and refused to listen to Tony explain the shocking statement that he just heard. Without conducting any investigation into the matter, the manager cut Tony off. “Stop. I’m not dealing with this right now. Tony, you’re terminated.”

Blatant racial discrimination like this is absolutely unacceptable in the workplace. Not only that, but it is strictly illegal under federal and state law. That’s why law firms like KM&A exist – to help workers stand up for their legal rights.

Full text of this federal complaint, as filed with the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is available at docket no: 2:17-cv-00609-MRH. Naturally, TAKTL denies the claims asserted by Tony Coker.

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC is an employment and litigation law firm with offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, serving all counties in Pennsylvania. KM&A clients include employees, small businesses, and parties in litigation.

For more information about this case, contact Attorney Mart Harris at 412-626-5585 or at mh@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.