A worker is suing her New Orleans employer, alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation in a series of incidents culminating in her termination.
Danielle K. Bragg filed a lawsuit July 17 against Belmont Commons and Distinctive Management Services in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, alleging employment law violation regarding an alleged series of April workplace injustices.
According to the complaint, Bragg, an African-American female, began employment as a bookkeeper with the defendant’s real estate management firm Feb. 15. The lawsuit considers the defendants to be joint employers under federal law and states that neither party has any known EEO policies displayed in the workplace.
The suit states Bragg received retaliatory performance criticisms only after she complained of race discrimination on the job beginning April 17, and when she complained of retaliation, superiors countered with further acts of retaliation, including posting her position prior to performing a promised “investigation.”
The lawsuit says Bragg's record was supposed to be corrected to reflect adequate performance April 29, but on May 6 she was suddenly terminated and replaced with a Caucasian worker. The plaintiff alleges pain and suffering, loss of reputation, embarrassment and humiliation.
Bragg seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, back pay and benefits, reinstatement, compensatory and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, expenses and court costs. She is represented by attorney James Arruebarrena of New Orleans.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-02720-JTM-MBN.