Texas Historical Commission accused of discrimination against white employee

The Texas Historical Commission is facing a discrimination lawsuit from a female employee who states she was treated differently because she was white.

Claiming violations of her civil rights, Ramona G. Hutchinson filed suit against the THC on Feb. 8 in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.

Within court documents, Hutchinson, who worked for THC in Castroville, claims she was unlawfully discharged due to false complaints made by co-workers. She states that during her employment with the Commission she was subjected to harassment and a hostile work environment.

Specifically, she states she complained to her supervisor that she was not allowed the same training as co-workers and that the Commission was violating Texas health, safety, employment and fiscal laws.

Hutchinson states that after she made an appointment with the Commission's Human Resources department, her supervisor disciplined her. After submitting her complaints to the human resources department, the complaints were forwarded to Hutchinson's immediate supervisor, the lawsuit states.

The plaintiff claims she was discriminated against because of her race, gender, age and in retaliation for making a complaint.

Hutchinson is acting as her own attorney and did not detail what remedies she wanted from the court.

U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield is assigned to the case.

Case No. 1:11-cv-00065