NEW ORLEANS - Naressa Cofield filed a federal lawsuit on December 3 in the Eastern District of Louisiana against KIPP New Orleans, Inc., Rhonda Kalifey-Aluise and Octave Laroche for discrimination and retaliation in violation of the Louisiana Human Rights Act, among many other claims.
According to the lawsuit, Dr. Cofield was regarded as KIPP's standout employee. After years with KIPP, Cofield began to question whether she and other Black women were paid less than their white and male peers and expressed her concerns about the pay inequities to LaRoche, then was summarily terminated, the suit says. After her termination, KIPP failed to provide Dr. Cofield with her notification of her right to COBRA coverage, and later, employer-paid COBRA coverage, despite federal law, the suit says.
Cofield allegedly was caused to suffer gender and race discrimination based on pay inequity and retaliation against for exercising her freedom of speech and association by subjecting her to illegal employment practices and policies including failing to pay her equal to her peers, refusing her requests for raises and terminating her. Cofield also suffered lost wages, compensatory and special damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
Cofield is represented by Casey Denson of New Orleans.
Eastern District Court of Louisiana case number 2:21-cv-02223-LMA-DPC