A Black attorney can proceed with his lawsuit alleging racism and retaliation against his former employer, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Rolling Out reports.
In the lawsuit, Oscar Hampton, who served as a regional solicitor for the DOL in Philadelphia, said he faced retaliation from his white supervisors after reporting discrimination and a hostile work environment.
Hampton alleges that his supervisors launched a campaign to undermine his professional reputation. The supervisors allegedly started an investigation into his management style, falsely claiming that Hampton was abusive and created a toxic work environment.
A white attorney, Judson Dean, allegedly referred to Hampton's Black subordinates as his "flying monkeys" and made other derogatory comments about Hampton's demeanor. Hampton alleges his supervisors took no action to address the harassment after he reported the incident.
According to the lawsuit, more forms of retaliation against Hampton included a demotion, denial of bonuses, and ultimately his termination in September 2023.
The DOL's Administrative Review Board dismissed Hampton's racial discrimination complaint in October 2023, citing that he failed to demonstrate that he was subjected to a hostile work environment.
However, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich recently ruled that Hampton's amended legal complaint, arguing color and waged-based discrimination, could proceed.
Hampton is seeking reinstatement, damages, and for the DOL to reform its anti-discrimination policies.
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