HOUSTON - A Houston woman initiated legal action against an area university over alleged gender discrimination.
In court papers filed Sept. 13 in Houston federal court, Michele Taylor alleges that Texas Southern University disciplined her for complaining about "growing" hostility from her supervisor, Dean Gregory H. Maddox.
Taylor is a TSU graduate and has been working at the university in its graduate school for more than 30 years.
At the time of the events in question, she works as an assistant dean.
The suit explains that the plaintiff complained to Maddox, who is not a defendant in the case, last year about unequal salary on grounds she performed the duties and responsibilities of an associate dean.
It claims Maddox failed to address the complaint and Taylor was made the subject of a "negative and marginal" 2011 performance evaluation she never knew about.
She subsequently notified the respondent's human resources department in writing that Maddox mistreated her as well as threatened to fire her without justification.
After months of purportedly no response, the original petition says, Taylor was given a written reprimand earlier this year that was "unfounded and baseless."
According to the claimant, the reprimand was issued out of "blatant" retaliation for her complaints.
A jury trial is requested.
Attorney LaShawn A. Williams of the L.A. Williams Law Firm P.C. in Houston is representing Taylor.
Case No. 4:13-CV-2708
Texas Southern University hit with gender discrimination suit from employee
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