NEW ORLEANS - A Jefferson Parish Streets Department employee has filed a lawsuit that claims the Parish is discriminating against him on the basis of his race and disability.
Claiming violations of his civil rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Durell Jones filed suit against Jefferson Parish and Jefferson Parish Streets Department on Sept. 2 in federal court in New Orleans.
Jones claims that the defendants' management and subordinates have conspired and harassed him based on his color and threatened him with physical harm.
The defendants are accused of retaliating against Jones after he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by giving him an unfair performance appraisal and by failing to adequately accommodate his disability.
Jones states that management discriminates, harasses and retaliates through assignments, lack of supervision, refusing to take corrective action upon complaints of harassment and threats of violence, selectively enforcing rules, and by taking unfounded and unsupported disciplinary actions.
The plaintiff is asking for an award of damages for loss of pay, loss of benefits, emotional, mental, psychological and physical harm, loss of income, loss of family and loss of enjoyment of life and punitive damages.
Jones is represented by New Orleans attorney John Michael Lawrence.
Case No. 2:12-cv-02191