LUFKIN-A female coach for the Crockett Independent School District is suing the school, alleging she was terminated because she was single and black.
Claiming gender and racial discrimination, LaRhonda L. Hunter filed suit against Crockett Independent School District on Oct. 5 in the Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division.
Hunter states she was informed on March 22, that the district would not renew her contract because she was single, did not have kids, and did not have family ties in the district. According to the lawsuit, similarly situated single males without children or local family ties were not terminated.
Hunter states the school district subsequently argued that it had to cut back the athletic department but actually hired replacements.
"In short, Plaintiff Hunter was subjected to different conditions than white male employees in the athletic department of Defendant Crockett Independent School District in that she was terminated, at least in part, due to her status of being an African-American female with no spouse, children, or family ties to Defendant Crockett Independent School District," the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for mental, emotional and psychological damages, full pay, front pay, back pay, attorney's fees, court costs and punitive damages.
Hunter is represented by Alex A. Castetter of Stuckey, Garrigan & Castetter in Nacogdoches.
U.S. District Judge Ron Clark is assigned to the case.
Case No. 9:10-cv-00137