HOUSTON - Alleging SuperMedia Sales Inc. fired him because of his Hispanic heritage, Houston resident Juan Vasquez has filed a lawsuit.
Recent court documents filed Nov. 13 in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division claim the defendant frequently mistreated Vasquez prior to his supposed termination.
SuperMedia hired the plaintiff as a media consultant in its Internet division sales group in Houston in or around August 2009.
Vasquez states that the harassment in question began when a sales manager repeatedly made fun of his first name, adding the complainant's non-Hispanic colleagues were spared.
The plaintiff shows the sales manager reportedly made the remarks in question within earshot of a supervisor but was not disciplined.
He further asserts the defendant "allowed a culture of harassment to permeate the Houston location" by permitting workers to freely make jokes about Hispanics and African Americans.
Vasquez's co-worker apparently compared Vasquez to a shirtless, overweight Mexican man he saw walking down the street, the suit says.
It insists SuperMedia treated non-Hispanics "more favorably with respect to the terms and conditions of employment."
The company dismissed the complainant on June 7, 2010, on grounds he failed to meet the expectations of his position, but according to the original petition, the reason was pretext for discrimination.
Vasquez's firing occurred just a week after an e-mail praising his work was sent, the suit says.
A jury trial is requested.
Attorney Liquita Lewis Thompson with Lewis Thompson Law PC in Humble is representing the plaintiff.
Case No. 4:12-CV-3345
Hispanic man cites racial discrimination as factor in termination suit
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