HOUSTON — A Tomball man is suing a Houston pipe fabricator, alleging he was discriminated against because he was of American origin.
Mark Struss filed a complaint June 19 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Boccard Pipe Fabricators alleging retaliation, discrimination and violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Struss was a qualified CEO with experience in the manufacturing industry. The suit says Struss joined Boccard Pipe on Feb. 7, 2014, becoming the CEO and achieving impressive results. T
However, the defendant's president, Xavier Delineau, a Frenchman, allegedly tried to single out the plaintiff and sabotage him. The plaintiff says he was singled out and treated poorly for being an American.
Boccard Pipe allegedly increased Struss' work and duties and unfairly blamed him when the plaintiff was unable to keep up with the responsibilities. The suit says Delineau continued to treat the plaintiff in a manner that caused him suffering and injury and did not provide the plaintiff opportunities to succeed in the company.
Following a number of incidents, the suit alleges, the plaintiff was put on a formal warning Oct. 31, 2016. There was, however, no reason to place the warning on the plaintiff because he was not performing poorly, the lawsuit states. The plaintiff says he rebutted the letter Nov. 7, 2016, listing all of the reasons that the allegations made against him were not true, but he was nevertheless terminated Nov. 23, 2016.
Struss seeks trial by jury, damages, including back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, interest, court costs and other just relief, He is represented by attorney Alfonso Kennard Jr. of Kennard Law PC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-02206