PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia contractor is suing a shipyard, alleging racial discrimination.
Darrell Choates filed a lawsuit July 7 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern Pennsylvania against Akers Philadelphia Shipyard, Patrick Miller and five unnamed employees.
According to the filing, Choates, an African-American, submitted a $15 million minority bid for a construction job but the company awarded the contract to a white male instead. The suit says the plaintiff was lied to, demeaned, treated unfairly and discouraged throughout the bid process.
Choates seeks damages of $1 million plus back pay, court costs and attorney fees. He is represented by attorney Blake Berenbaum of Richman, Berenbaum & Associates in Trevose.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern Pennsylvania 2:15-cv-03755-WY.