HOUSTON — A Florida man who worked as a foreman for Willow Creek, alleges he faced harassment and hostility from his crew because he is African-American.
Delmon Thompson of Mirarmar, Florida, filed a complaint Dec. 4 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Willow Creek Companies LLC. alleging violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Thompson began working for Willow Creek on April 10, 2018, and eventually was promoted to foreman where he oversaw a crew of eight Hispanics, two Caucasians and one African-American worker. He alleges that he faced harassment and hostility from his Hispanic crew.
The suit states Thompson was told he could not drink the company water "if you're not Mexican" and when he complained to his boss he was told to separate the Hispanics from his crew. The plaintiff alleges he then went above his boss to complain and was transferred to another unit and eventually wrongfully fired June 26, 2018, for allegedly falsifying company documents. He says he was replaced with an Hispanic worker.
Thompson seeks trial by jury, punitive damages, back pay and front pay, interest, attorney fees, court costs and all other just relief. He is represented by attorney Samantha Martinez of The Martinez Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number 4:19-CV-04714