MARSHALL - An African-American worker has filed a lawsuit against his former employer that claims he was fired from his job for complaining about being called a racially derogatory name.
William Fisher filed suit against Lufkin Industries Inc. on Aug. 7 in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.
Fisher claims that he was fired in May of 2009 after he reported that a younger white supervisor had called him "boy" in a racially derogatory manner.
According to the lawsuit, Lufkin fired Fisher for violating a work rule, engaging in "an activity other than assigned work...the unauthorized selling or soliciting the sale of articles."
However, Fisher argues that the real reason for his termination was discrimination and retaliation.
The defendant is accused of race discrimination in violation of his civil rights and for retaliation.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of compensatory damages, lost pay and reinstatement, attorney's fees, punitive damages, and court costs.
Fisher is represented by Timothy B. Garrigan of Stuckey, Garrigan & Castetter in Nacogdoches.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-00423