Black California Man Sues Jewish Day School for Discrimination, Harassment, Wrongful Termination
Oct 29, 2015
West Covina, CA (Law Firm Newswire) October 29, 2015 – A black, California man alleges he was discriminated against, harassed and fired from his job as Athletic Director and coach at a Jewish Day School in Los Angeles, California.
In a complaint filed with the Superior Court of Los Angeles, Harry Anthony Jackson, 53, alleges that the religious school terminated his contract last year after Mr. Jackson allegedly frequently complained about discrimination and harassment against him based on his skin color and race.
The complaint claims several instances of discrimination and harassment while employed by the school, including students allegedly saying “I don’t listen to blacks”, and alleged derogatory slurs written on a parking curb of the school, with allegedly no action by school management to investigate or resolve the matters.
The complaint claims that school personnel allegedly discriminated against Jackson while he was the Athletic Director, allegedly telling students “not to be naïve” because Jackson was “a 51 year old black man and a bachelor,” warning students that Jackson would rape them, the lawsuit notes.
Jackson alleges that the Jewish Day School’s President and other staff were made aware of the discriminatory and harassing incidents, targeting his race and the color of his skin. The complaint states the school’s President and her staff responded only that they would take care of it, but never met with Mr. Jackson to discuss his concerns.
According to the complaint, after the 2013-2014 school year, school officials offered Mr. Jackson a contract contingent on taking further course education. The complaint alleges these new requirements were never mandatory before and were implemented as obstacles for Mr. Jackson not to qualify for employment in retaliation of his complaints and in further discrimination against him for his skin color and race.
The claim states that despite Mr. Jackson’s completion of part of the requirements and enrollment in the second requirement, on August 14th, 2015, the school allegedly unlawfully rescinded the offer for employment only to allegedly offer it to Jackson again two (2) weeks later at significantly lower pay, the lawsuit claims.
The complaint further alleges that since the termination the religious school’s President, Rebecca Coen, has been making untruthful statements to members in the community about Mr. Jackson, including allegedly calling him a “rapist” and warning parents that he allegedly “touches kids.”
Jackson’s, alleged defamation, retaliation, discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination complaint, which does not specify monetary damages, was filed after the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing issued him a “right to sue” letter in response to Jackson’s filing of a discrimination charge against his ex-employer the complaint states.
Trial in the case has been set for March 21, 2016 in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Superior Court of Los Angeles, California. Plaintiff is represented by the Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr.
Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr., has offices in West Covina and Los Angeles, California, and it serves clients throughout Riverside County, San Bernardino County and the San Gabriel Valley, including West Covina, Covina, Pomona, Diamond Bar, Baldwin Park, Azusa, El Monte, Glendora and Los Angeles.
Contact:
Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr.
West Covina Law Office
1901 West Pacific Avenue, Suite 260
West Covina, CA 91790
Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr.
Pasadena Law Office
80 South Lake Avenue, Suite 710
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: 626-593-9031
Toll Free: 866-583-9564
Fax: 626-856-0886
