Filteau & Sullivan
GALVESTON - A Pearland man claims he lost his job because of discrimination, recent court documents say.
In a lawsuit filed April 13 in Galveston County District Court, Christopher N. Ofondu explains that Ineos USA LLC terminated him yet retained those who were in similar situations.
Ofondu, a 55-year-old American of Nigerian descent, worked for the defendant as an environment engineer.
Court papers show that the plaintiff received a 3 percent pay raise on April 1, 2011, but was also presented with a performance improvement plan "that identified shortcomings in his work efforts that bore no actual relationship to his work product or performance."
The report stated that Ofondu had been counseled about such matters twice, but the suit contends the complainant did not undergo any sort of evaluation.
Ofondu says the respondent applied a larger set of criteria toward its analysis of his work performance while keeping "a less exacting set for judging that of his peers."
According to the original petition, the plaintiff proceeded to follow his employer's orders, but his superiors refused to interact with him.
He received a termination letter dated Nov. 1, 2011, which reportedly indicated problems with Ofondu's work performance.
The suit argues the letter did not comport with either the facts or documentation surrounding the complainant's performance during the period in question.
Consequently, Ofondu seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
The plaintiff is represented by The Law Offices of Filteau & Sullivan LLP.
Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner is presiding over the case.
Case No. 12-cv-1025