On May 27, 2024, Dr. Karim Habbal filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). The complaint alleges Title VII discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Dr. Habbal's employment with LSUHSC began on July 1, 2019, as a postgraduate year one (PGY1) medical resident in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Ochsner University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette, Louisiana. According to the complaint, Dr. Habbal faced ongoing discrimination based on his race (Arab/Middle-Eastern), religion (Islam), and nationality (Lebanese-Canadian) from July 2019 until his termination on June 6, 2022. After an unsuccessful mediation attempt with the EEOC New Orleans field office and receiving a right-to-sue letter on March 15, 2024, Dr. Habbal proceeded with this lawsuit.
The complaint details numerous incidents of alleged discriminatory behavior by LSUHSC staff members. For instance, Dr. Tina Benoit-Clark is accused of making derogatory comments about Dr. Habbal’s fasting during Ramadan and questioning his Canadian nationality due to his non-white race. Similarly, Dr. Brad Broussard allegedly made racially insensitive remarks comparing hospital conditions to Fallujah and referring to Middle Eastern food as "your people's food." Additionally, both Drs. Karen Curry and Nicholas Sells reportedly pressured Dr. Habbal regarding his religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
Further allegations include instances where supervisors like Drs. David Heintze and Matthew Perkins publicly humiliated Dr. Habbal using demeaning nicknames and making inappropriate comments about his appearance related to racial stereotypes.
Dr. Habbal asserts that these discriminatory actions were not isolated but part of a pervasive hostile work environment tolerated by LSUHSC despite multiple reports he made through various channels including Human Resources and the Ombudsman for the Internal Medicine Residency Program.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Dr. Habbal requests several remedies including declaratory judgment that LSUHSC's practices were unlawful under Title VII; an injunction preventing further discriminatory practices; reinstatement or facilitation of completion of his medical training; correction of records; back pay with interest; compensatory damages for emotional distress; punitive damages; and any other relief deemed just by the court.
The case has been assigned Case Number 6:24-cv-00720-RRS-DJA with Judge Robert R Summerhays presiding over it.