Company fired driver because he is white, lawsuit says

HOUSTON - Houston resident Martin Clasen claims Silver Eagle Distributing LP fired him because he is white, recent court documents say.

A lawsuit filed Nov. 1 in Houston federal court explains that Silver Eagle dismissed Clasen for supposedly driving on a suspended license to which he says is untrue.

The defendant hired Clasen in February 1999.

Clasen states that despite his "undeniable dedication" to Silver Eagle, the company terminated his employment after more than 12 years on Dec. 12, 2011.

Owner John Nau III "carelessly" told the plaintiff he was being let go for allegedly "putting the company at risk" by operating a Silver Eagle vehicle with the license in question, the suit claims.

The original petition insists that Nau, who is not a defendant in the case, "was wrong in his allegations against Clasen, asserting the claimant "has never knowingly driven with a supended driver's license and the defendant knew this."

According to Clasen, Silver Eagle disciplined him harshly yet was more lenient toward Hispanic employees who committed similar or worse infractions.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Marjorie A. Murphy of The Murphy Law Practice in Houston is representing the plaintiff.

Case No. 4:13-CV-3231