PITTSBURGH — A former Wal-Mart employee is suing the company for allegations of race discrimination.
Jose Padilla filed a lawsuit on April 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores East LP, doing business as Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #2300; citing race discriminations under the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1981.
According to the complaint, Padilla was employed by the defendants as an asset protection associate at the Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #2300 in Pittsburgh from August 2015 until Feb. 5, 2016. The plaintiff claims he was treated differently because he was Hispanic and Puerto Rican.
On Jan. 29, 2016, the plaintiff claims that he and a Caucasian co-worker apprehended a customer who was trying to steal car batteries and restrained the customer so he would not leave the store while the police arrived. The plaintiff was allegedly fired four days later for “gross misconduct.” The defendant reportedly rehired the Caucasian co-worker but did not rehire the plaintiff, which he claims was a result of race discrimination.
Padilla seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, costs, and expenses. He is represented by Samuel J. Cordes and Nicholas A. Krafkoff of Samuel J. Cordes & Associates, in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-00411-NBF