NEW ORLEANS – A Livingston Parish woman is suing her employer, Shell Exploration, claiming it discriminates against minorities.
Tracy Lewis filed a lawsuit Jan. 4 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Shell Exploration and Production Co., alleging violations of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Shell Exploration fails to train, supervise and discipline its managers on how to handle minority workers. Specifically, the suit claims Shell Exploration supervisor Chris Louvier began to harass Lewis with racial undertones, such as ordering her to fix him a plate, as if she were a servant. In addition, the suit says Shell systematically fails to promote blacks, creates racial divisions and has an unrepresentative amount of minorities at its New Orleans office.
Lewis seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages, each in excess of $1 million, plus litigation costs. She is represented by Port Allen attorney Shannon L. Battiste.