On May 22, 2024, Samantha A. Granger filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the Jefferson Parish School Board (JPSB), Ace American Insurance Company, Dr. James Gray, and Viola Cosgrove.
Granger, a paraprofessional at Green Park Elementary School, alleges that she has been subjected to racial discrimination and harassment by the defendants in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Louisiana state laws. The complaint outlines various instances of alleged discriminatory behavior that began after Principal Viola Cosgrove was assigned to Green Park Elementary in August 2022.
According to the complaint, Granger had an exemplary employment record prior to Cosgrove's arrival. However, she claims that Cosgrove initiated a campaign to terminate her long-term employment through harassment and discrimination. Specific incidents include being falsely accused of smelling like marijuana upon returning from a break on August 31, 2022. Despite consenting to a drug test which returned negative results, Granger lost three days of work due to this false allegation.
The complaint also details another accusation where Granger was alleged to have pulled a student's hair. This claim was later proven false when the same student accused another teacher of similar behavior; however, unlike Granger, the other teacher was not sent home during the investigation.
Granger further alleges that Cosgrove created a hostile work environment by forbidding her from selling snacks to afterschool students while allowing other programs to do so. She claims this treatment led her to transfer schools under duress and threat of termination—a move she describes as retaliation and intimidation.
The lawsuit states that parents and colleagues were advised not to support or speak with Granger during these events. Despite attempts to resolve these issues internally and with minimal support from the Teacher’s Union, Granger faced ongoing allegations without evidence.
Granger filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and received a "Notice of Right to Sue" letter dated February 28, 2024. She is seeking reinstatement, back pay, front pay in lieu of reinstatement, penalties, attorney fees, legal interest from judicial demand until paid, costs of proceedings, and any other just and equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Granger are attorneys Leo Caillier III and Brandon Spann from Caillier & Associates LLC. The case is identified as Case No: 2:24-cv-01335-BSL-KWR with Judge BSL presiding over it.