Crockett housing authority sued for racial discrimination by former employees

LUFKIN - Two former housing authority employees are suing for discrimination claiming they lost their jobs shortly after complaining about employees using racial slurs.

Claiming a violation of their civil rights, Robert Luce and Mandy Nash filed suit against Housing Authority for the City of Crockett and Renea Minter on March 28 in the Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division.

Robert Luce was the security director and Mandy Nash, a white female, worked in the security and maintenance departments for the Housing Authority.

According to the original petition, Nash states she complained about racial discrimination by the executive director's brother and was terminated shortly thereafter. Luce supported Nash in her allegations about racial discrimination and was suspended on March 27, 2009.

Nash claims he determined he was not going to be put back to work and decided to resign.

According to the allegations, not only were Luce and Nash denied employment, but the executive director filed criminal charges against them for misappropriation of fiduciary property, which were later dismissed and expunged.

The Housing Authority for City of Crockett is accused of breaching its duty to provide employees and representatives with adequate supervision and training.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages for grief, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, damage to reputation, lost wages, punitive damages, interest, attorney fees and costs.

Luce and Nash are represented by Alex A. Castetter of Stuckey, Garrigan & Castetter Law Offices in Nacogdoches.

A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone is assigned to the case.

Case No. 9:11-cv-00049