FedEx sued for allegedly firing black worker who took offense to racial epithet

HOUSTON - Alleging he was fired a day after marking his 16th anniversary with FedEx Corp. because he is black, Houston resident Roddie Morgan has filed a lawsuit.

Recent court papers filed Aug. 22 in Houston federal court show FedEx disciplined Morgan for an unexcused absence which the plaintiff insists he never knew about.

Morgan believes his alleged termination came about from an Italian American co-worker's supposed efforts to get him fired.

According to the suit, Morgan's ordeal began when he requested a day off to make repairs to his vehicle.

The complainant was granted eight hours, and he proceeded to tend to the matter which required the day off.

During the repairs, Morgan called Mark Anton, the second-shift manager, to inform him that his primary manager gave him the shift off only for the call to drop.

Morgan called back and Anton told him he contact him after a meeting.

The suit further explains that the plaintiff returned to work to learn he was suspended pending the result of an investigation, apparently for when he took off to fix his vehicle.

It adds Morgan was away from the job for 26 days during which he was let go.

Morgan asserts he lost his job because he took issue with Anton referring to him as a "moolie," a term derived from the Sicilian pronunciation of the Italian word "malazane."

According to the lawsuit, malazane, which translates into "eggplant," is allegedly a racial epithet used by Italians when talking about blacks.

The plaintiff insists that FedEx was not strict with white workers who committed the same offense as him, saying his replacement is white.

Consequently, he seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Morgan is representing himself.

Case No. 4:13-CV-2464