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LOUISIANA RECORD

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Former Walgreens pharmacist alleges racial discrimination and retaliation

Federal Court
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In a recent court filing, Joseph Monette has lodged a complaint against Walgreen Co. ("Walgreens") for alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Louisiana State Whistleblower Law. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 16, 2024.

Joseph Monette, who worked as a Staff Pharmacist at Walgreens' Elysian Fields and St. Claude location (Store #2262), claims that he discovered unlawful practices at the store in Spring 2023. According to Monette, unlicensed employees were permitted to perform tasks reserved for licensed pharmacy technicians. Upon reporting these practices to his supervisor and district manager, and subsequently to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy when no action was taken, Monette alleges he faced racial discrimination and retaliation from Walgreens management.

Monette's complaints include an incident in May 2023 where his supervisor allegedly made a racially charged remark suggesting he should quit because he is Caucasian while most employees and customers at Store #2262 are African American. Despite reporting this incident to Walgreens' Human Resources Department, Monette asserts that no substantial investigation was conducted, leading to further retaliation including being assigned menial tasks and having his Paid Time Off requests denied.

Monette also highlights several other incidents where he felt unsupported by Walgreens management. For instance, during Summer 2023, he encountered unruly customers but received no assistance from management in handling these situations. His ongoing complaints about racial discrimination and unlawful practices culminated in his suspension on September 1, 2023, followed by termination two weeks later under vague allegations of "ongoing code of conduct violations."

The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court including back pay, front pay, compensation for emotional distress, punitive damages where applicable, attorneys’ fees, and any other legal or equitable relief deemed appropriate. He also demands a jury trial.

Representing Joseph Monette are attorneys Chelsea B. Cusimano, M. Suzanne Montero, Katherine B. Wells, and Haley Juptier from Sternberg Naccari & White LLC.

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