Springfield city employee sues for racial discrimination

NewsChannel 5

18 Feb 201902:18

Summary

TLDRLocal city employee Jordan Dickerson has filed a lawsuit alleging racial harassment at Springfield's wastewater department. He claims coworkers racially taunted him, even placing a rope around his neck with a 'go monkey' comment. Dickerson is seeking $500,000 in damages, and his attorneys are urging employers to address such incidents. The city of Springfield is unable to comment due to pending litigation, but court documents reveal that the accused employees were disciplined.

Takeaways

📢 A local city employee, Jordan Dickerson, has filed allegations of racial discrimination and harassment at his workplace.
🚨 Jordan Dickerson is seeking $500,000 in damages for the incidents he experienced.
👥 The employee's attorneys, Chris and Steven Crawford, along with Mary Parker, are known for filing civil rights suits and are shocked by this case.
🎯 The alleged incidents include a coworker placing a rope around Jordan's neck and using racially charged language.
📝 Federal court documents detail the racial harassment Jordan faced at the Springfield wastewater department.
🤦‍♂️ Jordan was referred to derogatorily in a text message and was told new work hats only looked good on white people.
🙅‍♂️ Despite the incidents, Jordan's request to be transferred to a different department was denied.
😔 The attorneys express disbelief that such incidents are still occurring in 2019 and emphasize the historical context of the rope incident.
🏢 The city of Springfield has not commented due to pending litigation, but court documents indicate that the employees involved were disciplined.
📚 The attorneys argue that racism in the workplace is still prevalent and question why employers do not intervene immediately upon hearing of such incidents.
📺 NewsChannel 5's Chris Conte reported the story, highlighting the disturbing nature of the allegations.

Q & A

What is the main issue raised by the local city employee?
-The local city employee, Jordan Dickerson, alleges that he was racially discriminated against and taunted at his workplace, the Springfield wastewater department.
What specific incident is mentioned in the script that Jordan Dickerson found particularly shocking?
-The most shocking incident for Jordan Dickerson was when a co-worker allegedly put a rope around his neck and said 'go monkey go'.
What is the amount of damages that Jordan Dickerson is seeking?
-Jordan Dickerson is seeking five hundred thousand dollars in damages.
What was the response of Jordan Dickerson when he faced these allegations of racial harassment?
-Jordan Dickerson asked to be transferred to a different department to get away from his alleged abusers, but his request was denied.
What did Jordan Dickerson's attorneys, Steven Crawford and Mary Parker, find particularly shocking about this case?
-Attorneys Steven Crawford and Mary Parker were particularly shocked by the incident involving the rope and the racial slur 'go monkey go', considering the year is 2019.
What do Jordan Dickerson's attorneys believe about the prevalence of racism in the workplace?
-His attorneys contend that racism, as evidenced by this case, is alive and well in the workplace.
Why did the city of Springfield not comment on the allegations?
-The city of Springfield could not comment on the allegations because the case is pending litigation.
What action did the city of Springfield claim to have taken in response to the incidents?
-In court documents filed, the city of Springfield contended that the employees involved were disciplined.
What is the role of Chris Conte in this situation?
-Chris Conte is a reporter from NewsChannel 5 who spoke with Jordan Dickerson's attorneys and reported on the allegations.
How did the script describe the reaction of Jordan Dickerson's attorneys to the case?
-The script described the attorneys as being in a bit of shock and finding the case both frivolous and offensive.
What was the reaction of Jordan Dickerson's attorneys to the employer's response to the allegations?
-The attorneys expressed disbelief and questioned why the employer did not step in and stop the alleged racial harassment as soon as they became aware of it.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Racial Harassment Allegations at Springfield Wastewater Department

A local city employee, Jordan Dickerson, has filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and harassment at Springfield's wastewater department. Dickerson, who is black, claims that his co-workers taunted him with racial slurs and even put a rope around his neck, telling him to 'go monkey go.' He is seeking $500,000 in damages and wants his employers to take notice. His attorneys, Steven Crawford and Mary Parker, have filed numerous civil rights suits but are shocked by the severity of this case. Dickerson also alleges that he was denied a transfer to escape his alleged abusers. The city of Springfield has not commented due to pending litigation, but court documents indicate that the employees involved were disciplined.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Discrimination

Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of a person or group based on certain characteristics such as race, color, or ethnicity. In the video's narrative, the local city employee, Jordan Dickerson, claims to have been discriminated against by his co-workers due to his skin color, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Taunting

Taunting is the act of mocking or making fun of someone in a way that is intended to upset or annoy them. The script mentions that Jordan Dickerson was taunted while on the job, highlighting the hostile work environment he experienced, which is a key element of the allegations.

💡Racial Harassment

Racial harassment is a form of discrimination where individuals are targeted and mistreated because of their race. The video discusses how Jordan Dickerson was racially harassed at the Springfield wastewater department, with specific instances such as a co-worker putting a rope around his neck and making derogatory comments.

💡Civil Rights

Civil rights are the rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and to be free from unfair discrimination based on factors like race, religion, or national origin. The attorneys for Jordan Dickerson have filed civil rights suits, indicating the legal avenue being pursued to address the racial discrimination he faced.

💡Damages

In legal terms, damages refer to a monetary compensation awarded to a party that has suffered loss or injury due to the actions of another. Jordan Dickerson is seeking $500,000 in damages, which underscores the severity of the harm he claims to have suffered.

💡Employment

Employment relates to the state of having a job or being paid for work carried out. The video's theme revolves around the workplace, where Jordan Dickerson, an employee at the wastewater department, faced racial discrimination and harassment.

💡Attorneys

Attorneys, or lawyers, are legal professionals who represent clients in a court of law. In the script, Jordan Dickerson's attorneys, Steven Crawford and Mary Parker, are representing him in filing a lawsuit against the alleged racial discrimination he experienced at work.

💡Federal Court

Federal court refers to the judicial system of the United States at the national level, as opposed to state courts. The script mentions federal court documents, indicating the high level of jurisdiction and the seriousness of the racial harassment allegations.

💡Workplace

The workplace is the environment or location where people work. The video's main theme is set in the workplace, where Jordan Dickerson claims to have been racially harassed and taunted by his co-workers, illustrating the issue of racism in professional settings.

💡Litigation

Litigation is the process of taking a legal dispute to a court. The city of Springfield could not comment due to pending litigation, which refers to the ongoing legal process involving Jordan Dickerson's case of alleged racial discrimination.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice. The video discusses the persistence of racism in the workplace, as evidenced by the disturbing allegations made by Jordan Dickerson.

Highlights

Local city employee Jordan Dickerson claims racial discrimination and harassment at work.

Jordan Dickerson is seeking $500,000 in damages from his employer.

Attorneys Chris and Steven Crawford and Mary Parker represent Dickerson, expressing shock at the case's allegations.

Dickerson, a black employee, alleges a co-worker put a rope around his neck and racially taunted him.

The incident included the racial slur 'go monkey go', according to Dickerson's account.

Jordan Dickerson was also referred to as 'that black Jordan' in a text message.

He was told new work hats only looked good on white people.

Dickerson requested a transfer to escape the alleged harassment but was denied.

His attorneys argue that such racism is prevalent in the workplace and should be immediately addressed by employers.

The city of Springfield could not comment due to pending litigation.

Court documents reveal that the employees involved were disciplined.

The attorneys have filed numerous civil rights suits, but this case stands out for its severity.

The case raises questions about the employer's response to racial harassment allegations.

The incident is described as 'history book stuff', highlighting its shocking nature in the modern workplace.

The attorneys emphasize the importance of employers taking immediate action against racism.

The news report underscores the ongoing issue of racism in professional settings.