Discrimination suit alleges power co. supervisor falsely accused black employee

SHERMAN - A power company employee has filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming he was accused of having unapproved overtime because he is black.

Eric D. Celestine filed suit against Texas-New Mexico Power Co. on Aug. 23 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.

Celestine, an African-American, has been employed with the defendant since January 1996 in the engineering department. According to the lawsuit, Celestine’s immediate supervisor accused him of having unapproved overtime and of being late for work.  Celestine claims the accusations were made because of his race, the suit alleges.

The defendant is accused of violating Celestine’s civil rights.

The plaintiff is seeking an award of actual damages for back pay, front pay, emotional distress, economic loss, attorney’s fees, punitive damages and interest.

Celestine is represented by David B. Joeckel Jr. of The Joeckel Law Office in Fort Worth. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Schell is assigned to the case.

Case No. 4:13-cv-00484