PHILADELPHIA — A shipyard worker alleges he faced racial discrimination by his coworkers and others and was fired in retaliation for filing a federal lawsuit.
Dennis Roscoe filed a complaint April 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Philly Shipyard Inc., HKA Enterprises LLC, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers and Stephen M. Lalumera alleging civil rights violations and other claims.
Roscoe, according to his complaint, worked for the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in 2013, which is now owned by the defendants. He claims that his coworkers referred to Black employees as N-words and that after he complained to management, he was transferred to another department and fired on Feb. 5, 2014.
He filed a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and received a Notice of Right of Sue, according to his suit. Roscoe further alleges that he began working for HKA as a shipbuilder in September 2021 and was terminated several days later for no reason. He claims HKA continued hiring for his position after he was terminated and that he was fired for previous EEOC filings and for his federal rights lawsuit filed in 2015.
As a result of the alleged hostile work environment, Roscoe claims he suffered emotional pain, loss of income as well as other damages.
Roscoe seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Ian Bryson of The Derek Smith Law Group PLLC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-01428-MSG