HOUSTON – A local man has brought a wrongful termination lawsuit against a petroleum distribution business, claiming that the defendant fired him for complaining about a manager’s supposedly racist remark.
Houston federal court records show that Joe Randle sued Sun Coast Resources, Inc. on Dec. 10.
Randle, whom the respondent employed in its maintenance department, explains that the comment in question arose from when he got white paint on his face.
“Manager (Caucasian) at Sun Coast’s Jasper facility proceeded to taunt Mr. Randle, telling him that he was trying to look white in an effort to improve his credit rating,” the suit says.
It adds that a “humiliated” Randle lodged a complaint with the defendant, but was then retaliated against.
Sun Coast reportedly terminated the plaintiff for “not meeting company expectations,” to which court papers refute was pretext.
Consequently, Randle seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by Dennis A. Clifford of The Clifford Law Firm, PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:18-CV-4659