PHILADELPHIA — A former prep cook is suing a Philadelphia catering company, alleging racial discrimination.
Morgan Anderson filed a lawsuit Feb. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Finley Catering Co. Inc., alleging racial discrimination, retaliation, a hostile work environment, reduction in hours, wrongful termination, violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and violations of Pennsylvania Common Law.
According to the complaint, Anderson was hired to work for Finley Catering in September 2014 as a full-time prep cook at the Union Trust building in Philadelphia. The suit says the plaintiff was the only African-American employed by the defendant and, during his employment, management would make racially insensitive jokes and comments either in the plaintiff’s presence or directed to the plaintiff.
In October 2014, Anderson says he complained to the management that he was experiencing racial discrimination, upon which time he alleges other employees began to treat him in a hostile manner and soon his schedule was abruptly reduced in December.
The plaintiff alleges he filed for partial unemployment compensation benefits, was told he was fired but then given a dishwasher job. The lawsuit says his hours were stripped away until he was constructively and/or actually terminated in May 2015.
The plaintiff filed a charge of discrimination and retaliation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC).
Anderson seeks promulgation of a policy that prohibits racial discrimination, compensation for pay and benefits, liquidated/punitive damages, costs, expenses and a trial by jury. He is represented by attorney Ari Karpf of Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti PC, in Bensalem.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-00619-JP