A former employee has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging age and national origin discrimination. On September 3, 2024, Lanney Jones, Sr. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Bernhard, LLC.
Jones, who was born in Honduras and immigrated to the United States in 1963, claims he faced continuous harassment and discrimination during his employment at Bernhard, LLC from 1992 until his termination on March 8, 2023. According to the complaint, Jones was subjected to derogatory comments about his national origin and pressured by supervisors to retire due to his age. The plaintiff alleges that these actions violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law.
The complaint details instances where Jones's coworkers and supervisors made offensive remarks about his heritage and hair texture. Despite reporting these incidents internally, no action was taken to address or stop the harassment. Furthermore, starting three years before his termination, Jones's supervisors repeatedly urged him to retire. When he refused to do so, he was allegedly terminated under false pretenses following an argument with a younger coworker known for her unprofessional behavior.
Jones contends that Bernhard’s investigation into the incident leading to his termination was biased and aimed at justifying their decision rather than uncovering the truth. He asserts that witnesses were not properly questioned and that inconsistent statements were used against him while ignoring evidence that could have exonerated him.
In response to these alleged discriminatory practices, Jones is seeking both declaratory and injunctive relief from the court. He requests a permanent injunction preventing Bernhard from continuing such unlawful practices and asks for policies promoting equal employment opportunities for older employees. Additionally, Jones seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits as well as emotional distress caused by the hostile work environment. He also demands punitive damages for what he describes as malicious conduct by Bernhard.
Represented by attorney Alan F. Kansas of The Law Office of Alan Kansas, LLC., Jones has demanded a jury trial for all issues triable by jury. The case has been assigned Case ID: 2:24-cv-02163.