HOUSTON — A Harris County man is suing a beverage company, alleging he was terminated due to his race.
Elroy Slater, an African-American male, filed a complaint March 21 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Ken's Beverages Inc., alleging racial discrimination.
The suit says Slater was employed by Ken's from November 2016 to October 2017 and was commonly referred to in racially derogatory terms by the defendant. Slater alleges when he reported the treatment, the supervisor began to treat the plaintiff worse.
The plaintiff says he went to human resources and told them about the treatment he had received and voiced his intention of resigning. On Oct. 9, 2017, the suit alleges, the HR representative told Slater that she would deal with the issue. However, the suit says, she then called the plaintiff the next day and told Slater that he had lost his job, accusing him of stealing, which he had not done.
The suit alleges Ken's Beverages violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Slater seeks trial by jury, back pay, loss of benefits, punitive damages, reinstatement, front pay, attorney fees and interest. He is is represented by attorney David C. Holmes of Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-1055