A former employee has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination against a prominent educational institution. Dr. Tireka Cobb filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on August 20, 2024, naming the Board of Regents (LOSFA) as the defendant.
Dr. Cobb's lawsuit is grounded in allegations of race and age discrimination, as well as retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). According to Dr. Cobb, she was terminated from her position in June 2023 after serving as Director of Field Outreach Services for LOSFA since April 2013. She claims that her dismissal, along with the elimination of her entire unit consisting of 15 employees, was unjustly justified by "end-of-grant funding," which she asserts was manipulated to support her wrongful discharge.
The plaintiff recounts a series of grievances she filed against her supervisor, Dr. Sujuan Boutte, starting in 2020 when she noticed irregularities and violations related to DOE grant rules. One significant incident involved Dr. Keena Arbuthnot, an external evaluator who was dismissed under dubious circumstances. Dr. Cobb alleges that Dr. Boutte directed her to reduce payments owed to Dr. Arbuthnot and created a hostile work environment through harsh remarks and discriminatory behavior.
Dr. Cobb further alleges that after filing grievances about these issues with Victor Jones, counsel for LOSFA, she was designated as a "whistleblower." Despite assurances from Jones that her information would remain confidential, Dr. Boutte became aware of the grievances and escalated her retaliatory actions against Dr. Cobb and her unit.
The complaint details how VELA Group, an organization comprised entirely of white personnel, replaced Dr. Arbuthnot as external evaluators for LOSFA's GEAR UP program—a move that added extra duties to Dr. Cobb without additional compensation despite promises otherwise. When concerns about pay discrimination were raised again with Jones, he reportedly acknowledged that Dr. Boutte was "moving the goalpost" regarding Dr. Cobb's pay.
In December 2022, during a public meeting streamed on YouTube, Dr. Boutte presented manipulated data prepared by VELA to justify dismantling the GEAR UP unit by falsely claiming it had no measurable outcomes or objectives—claims directly contradicted by national recognition received by the program for its achievements.
Following these events and additional grievances filed by other discharged employees against Dr. Boutte, only five out of fifteen members from Dr. Cobb’s predominantly Black unit secured new positions within LOSFA; three were white and two were Black.
Dr. Cobb seeks multiple forms of relief from the court: a permanent injunction preventing further discriminatory practices by LOSFA; implementation of equal employment opportunity policies; back pay with interest; compensation for emotional distress; punitive damages; and coverage for legal costs.
Representing Plaintiff is attorney Clarence Roby Jr., while Chief Attorney Robert J Roux represents Defendant Board of Regents (LOSFA). The case is presided over by Judge S.D.J., with Magistrate E.W.D., under Case ID: 3:24-cv-00679-SDJ-EWD.