HARRISBURG — A customer is suing Greyhound Bus Lines and driver Wayne Torrence, alleging discrimination during an incident on board a bus that has created headlines.
William Anderson filed a complaint on Jan. 29, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the defendants, alleging they violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, on Jan. 5, 2019, plaintiff was a passenger on defendants' bus when he was injured while inside the bathroom. He reported suffering chest contusions and other physical injuries, humiliation, embarrassment, loss of income, emotional distress and mental anguish.
The plaintiff holds Greyhound Bus Lines Inc. and Wayne Torrence responsible because defendant Torrence allegedly discriminated against him by asking him to transfer seats while he was sleeping and violently pulled the bus to the side of the roadway while he was inside the bathroom.
The lawsuit says Torrence suspected Anderson of vaping on the bus and even pulled into Maryland State Police barracks at one point.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, with costs, interest. and attorney's fees in an amount exceeding $150,000. He is represented by Aaron Freiwald, Glenn Ellis and Zachary Feinberg of Freiwald Law in Philadelphia.
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Case No. is 1:19-cv-00164-YK.