A Gregg County resident is suing his former employer, Great White Pressure Control, over claims of racial discrimination.
Rafael Herrera filed a complaint Aug. 7 in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas against Great White Pressure Control LLC, alleging employment discrimination.
According to the complaint, on July 30, 2014, Herrera, a Hispanic man, was terminated from his position as assistant operator by his supervisor, Kevin White, who based the termination on claims that Herrera had failed his driver certification and had received two warnings from others supervisors for his driving, as well as his not being fluent in English.
The complaint alleges that he had previously been told when interviewing for the position that his language barrier would not be an issue, as the position only required driving skills. The complaint further alleges that the first two reasons for his termination had been fabricated and were only a pretext for discriminatory termination.
As a result of his discriminatory termination, Herrera has suffered damages for lost back wages, insurance benefits, lost future wages, emotional pain and suffering, and mental anguish, according to the suit.
Herrera seeks compensatory damages with interest, plus attorney fees and court costs. He is represented by William S. Hommel Jr. of Hommel Law Firm in Tyler.
Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas case number 2:15-cv-01403-JRG-RSP