Man claims HEB job loss based on discrimination

A former H.E.B. Grocery Co. employee has filed suit against the store, alleging he lost his job after attempting to investigate the treatment of an employee.

Bruce Block claims he had been working for defendant H.E.B. since 1995 with an exemplary record when he began to investigate the subordination by a minority employee.  Following his investigation, Block was terminated, according to the complaint filed Sept. 5 in Jefferson County District Court.

"Defendants terminated plaintiff without a legitimate reason or cause," the suit states. "Defendants provided plaintiff with no explanation as to why he was terminated."

Because of his job loss, Block lost wages, the complaint says.

He seeks reinstatement to his former position, plus actual and punitive damages, costs, attorneys' fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Cody Dishon and Jane S. Leger of Provost Umphrey Law Firm in Beaumont will be representing him.

Jefferson County District Court case number: B196-088

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County District Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.