HOUSTON - Three former employees with Total Vein Solutions LLC claim each of them was fired because of race, recent court documents say.
Diane Doyle, Paul Martinez and Michelle Morostica allege in a lawsuit filed Oct. 5 in Houston federal court that superiors at Total Vein subjected them to a hostile work environment due to their Hispanic origins.
Doyle was an accounting manager while Martinez worked in the same department and Morostica in the customer service/marketing/administration department.
According to the suit, Doyle, who was hired in 2007, claims company head David Centanni made unwanted sexual advances toward her and said disparaging things about her Mexican heritage. She states she also faced accusations of having an affair with Centanni.
Doyle claims she endured Centanni's "ill" treatment and harassment because as a single mother she needed a job, but filed an unsuccessful complaint before her dismissal, the original petition says.
Martinez shows Centanni berated him and Doyle in the presence of other employees, talked openly about sex in front of female workers and instituted an English-only policy in the workplace except when he and his Mexican colleague were required to talk to Latino clients in Spanish.
Martinez claims he continuously addressed the mistreatment to no avail, as the defendant extended his probation period and then terminated him, the suit says.
Morostica, who came aboard in late 2009, states she agreed to act as a witness on Doyle and Martinez's behalf to which Total Vein responded by writing her numerous false reprimands and ultimately firing her.
The plaintiffs believe the respondent acted out of revenge.
Consequently, they seek unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Attorney Melissa Moore with Moore & Associates in Houston is representing the complainants.
Case No. 4:12-cv-2979
Suit: Workers fired for making discrimination, sexual harassment complaints
