African-American manager files racial discrimination lawsuit against sugar refinery

NEW ORLEANS - An African-American manager of a Louisiana sugar refinery has filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming that he was terminated for time sheet discrepancies while white employees with similar time discrepancies were not fired.

Edmond Nicholas filed suit against American Sugar Refining Inc., Pete Maria, and Steve McSherry on Nov. 15 in St. Bernard Parish District Court. The defendant removed the case to federal court in New Orleans on Dec. 17.

Nicholas worked for American Sugar Refining from 1994 until December 2011. From 2003 until his termination, Nicholas worked as a “raw sugar manager.” As part of his job duties, he was issued a security access card to enter the refinery’s dock.

At the conclusion of a meeting with his supervisor, Nicholas was suspended pending investigation of a purported time discrepancy. Ultimately, he was terminated, because his timesheets did not match the use of his access card to leave and enter the refinery’s dock. Nicholas was replaced by a white employee.

According to the lawsuit, white employees who were accused of similar time discrepancies were not terminated.

The plaintiff is asking for an award of damages for humiliation, embarrassment, mental suffering, mental anguish and distress, lost income, interest, court costs, and attorney’s fees.

Nicholas is represented by J. Wayne Mumphrey and Carlos A. Zelaya, II of Mumphrey Law Firm in Slidell.

U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:12-cv-02977