NEW ORLEANS – Six former shipyard employees say LaShip discriminated against them based on their race.
Jesse Hills Jr., Frederic Mosley, Darrl Robert, Kareem Stewart, Eugene Watson and Joe Williams filed a lawsuit Nov. 5 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against LaShip LCC and supervisor Abbie Champagne, citing unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
According to the complaint, the six African-American plaintiffs were the victims of a pattern of racial discrimination, including jokes and graffiti, segregation of lavatories and water coolers, and underpayment or denial of promotions compared to white co-workers. The suit says the men were fired on Feb. 27 or March 2 after complaining about the discrimination.
The plaintiffs seek compensation for lost wages, medical bills, emotional distress and attorney’s fees. They are represented by attorney Julie Anne Gardner of the Metairie law firm Gardner & Steib.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District Case number 2:15-cv-05736