LOUISIANA RECORD

A deli worker brought a lawsuit against a regional grocery store chain for alleged sexual harassment in 2014.

Marcus White filed a grievance against Rouse’s Enterprises LLC, doing business in Metairie, in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana on April 28, citing retaliation in an alleged September 2014 incident of same-sex harassment.

White was hired by the defendant as a meat cutter at the store’s Airline Highway location on or about April 23, 2012. According to the suit, the plaintiff endured suggestive comments, lewd gestures and unwelcome advances from the deli department manager, Edward Drevar III, on or about Sept. 11, 2014, while in the men’s room at work.

The plaintiff allegedly exited the men’s room in a state of distress. The suit states that he was suspended from work pending an investigation on or about Sept. 13, 2014, and was terminated Sept. 15, 2014. According to the filing, White was alternately told two different and allegedly fabricated reasons for his dismissal.

Alleging that the supervisor, whom the suit states was openly gay, fired him in retaliation for not accepting his advances, the plaintiff, who sought the care of a therapist following the incident, cites severe anxiety and mental anguish.

White seeks damages for emotional distress, medical expenses, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, expenses and costs.

He is represented by Laurence Cohen of New Orleans.

U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana Case 2:15-cv-01384-SM-DEK