William L. Jones, Jr., a former employee of United Airlines, has filed a lawsuit against the airline, alleging racial discrimination and wrongful termination. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on January 26, 2025. Jones accuses United Airlines of terminating his employment under false pretenses to protect itself from a separate race-discrimination lawsuit.
The case stems from Jones's termination on February 1, 2024, after nearly 36 years with United Airlines as a ramp agent at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. According to the complaint, Jones claims he was dismissed not for legitimate reasons but as part of a strategic move by United Airlines to defend against a race-discrimination lawsuit filed by another employee, Bradley Stokes. Stokes had alleged that he was terminated due to racial bias and that similar infractions committed by non-Black employees were overlooked.
Jones asserts that his dismissal was pretextual and racially motivated. He alleges that United used his termination to create a comparator class of non-Black employees who were fired under allegedly similar circumstances to those cited in Stokes's case. This action was purportedly taken to bolster United's defense in the ongoing litigation with Stokes. In support of his claim, Jones references statements made by his union representative, Robert Jesel, who allegedly indicated that Jones’s firing was directly linked to the race-discrimination lawsuit involving Stokes.
The complaint outlines several causes of action against United Airlines, including unlawful disparate-treatment discrimination based on race under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and 42 U.S.C. § 1981. It also cites violations under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law (LEDL). Jones seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits, reinstatement or front pay, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.
Representing William L. Jones is attorney Kevin S. Vogeltanz from The Law Office of Kevin S. Vogeltanz LLC in Mandeville, Louisiana. The case is being heard in the Eastern District of Louisiana with no judge assigned yet as per Case ID: 2:25-cv-00175.