Claiming that Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc. fired him for pushing back against being called “Magic Mike,” Beaumont resident Michael R. McKnight has filed a lawsuit.
Per the complaint filed March 21 in Beaumont federal court, the termination was a form of retaliation.
McKnight worked as a security officer for the defendant for approximately 11 months at the time the purported sexual harassment began.
Aside from the “Magic Mike” moniker, the original petition explains, McKnight’s coworkers referenced the related movie about male strippers when speaking to him.
The plaintiff reported the misconduct to no avail as he was supposedly told that his colleagues were “just playing.”
“On the contrary, more staff joined in the harassment,” the suit says, adding that the complainant was prompted to take a leave of absence in early September 2015.
McKnight further asserts that the mistreatment did not end upon his return to work as a coworker showed him a nude photo of one of the female employees. Shortly afterwards, GCHC terminated the plaintiff on allegations he made a violent threat.
Consequently, McKnight seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by attorney David R. Schleicher of the law firm Schleicher Law Firm, PLLC in Waco.
Beaumont Division of the Eastern District of Texas Case No. 1:16-CV-00077