PITTSBURGH - An Ambridge man is suing Best Buy, alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliatory firing.
Joshua Gill of Ambridge filed a complaint July 29 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Best Buy Co. Inc., alleging disparate treatment, harassment, retaliation and violation of state human rights law.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 31, 2013, Gill filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Best Buy and received a right to sue letter April 30, 2015.
The suit says Gill, an African-American, worked at the Best Buy, 220 Golfview Drive, Monaca. With experience in security and an associate's degree in criminal justice, the suit says he applied in October 2013 for an asset protection position at the Monaca store, but was told that the position didn't exist. According to the lawsuit, he was offered a seasonal position in the warehouse instead.
As he later learned, the lawsuit states, the store continued to search for an asset protection worker, allegedly a Caucasian. Over the course of the next few months, the plaintiff says, he was subjected to racist and retaliatory actions, and was disciplined for arbitrary things.
Gill seeks back pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees and court costs. He is represented by attorney John Newborg of Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case number 2:15-cv-00984-RCM.