Dracus Perry, a former employee of International Paper Company, has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and racial discrimination. The complaint was lodged by Perry in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on February 21, 2025, against International Paper Company and several individuals associated with the company.
The case details how Dracus Perry, an African American man and resident of Louisiana, was terminated from his position at International Paper under circumstances he claims were discriminatory and unjust. Perry had been employed as a boiler operator since February 2018 and was later promoted to water tender operator due to his excellent performance. However, in June 2024, he made an error while entering test results—a mistake he asserts was minor and unintentional. Despite this being his first such error, Perry alleges that white colleagues who committed similar or more severe infractions were not terminated but rather received lesser disciplinary actions such as verbal warnings or short suspensions.
Perry's termination followed a meeting on July 2, 2024, which he attended despite being on leave with his family. During this meeting, he was questioned about the test result error by Angus Macintyre, Business Unit Manager at International Paper. Perry claims that during this process, he was not informed of any new policy that warranted immediate termination for such errors. On July 9, 2024, Perry was officially informed of his termination via a phone call from Human Resources citing "falsifying documents" as the reason.
The lawsuit accuses International Paper of racial discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by treating him differently than white employees who committed similar infractions. Additionally, it alleges wrongful discharge due to fraudulent policy procedures—arguing that the policy used to justify his firing did not exist at the time of his termination—and intentional infliction of emotional distress due to the handling of his case.
Perry is seeking damages for mental anguish, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), embarrassment, damage to reputation, attorney fees, punitive damages, and lost wages among other compensations. He demands a jury trial to address these grievances.
Representing Dracus Perry is attorney Lillian Ratliff from Bogalusa, Louisiana. The case has been filed under Case ID: 2:25-cv-00359 in front of an unnamed judge in the Eastern District Court of Louisiana.