WILLIAMSPORT — A former worker with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) alleges she faced racial discrimination by supervisors including being called a "slave" and "monkey brain."
Laverne Dixon filed a complaint April 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the PDE alleging discrimination, retaliation and other claims.
Dixon, according to her complaint, began working for the PDE as a career and technical education advisor in February of 2012. She alleges that she suffered racial discrimination, abuse and retaliation from a contractor and partner of the PDE including being called a "slave," "lazy black work-horse," "monkey brain" and other racially offensive terms.
She claims the co-worker grabbed her arm so hard that it left a bruise and that in 2014, he trashed her workstation with nearly 100 boxes meant for the dumpster. She also claims in 2015 while attending a conference in Florida, he attempted to have the hotel place her room under surveillance.
Dixon also alleges that another supervisor stated, "white people are smarter than Black people." She states in her complaint that white applicants were selected over her for higher positions for which she had more qualifications and that she was paid a lower salary than her white counterparts who were doing the same or similar work. Dixon took constructive discharge in October 2021.
Dixon seeks monetary relief of more than $150,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Paul Carrion of The Law Offices of Eric A. Shore PC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 1:22-CV-00622-CCC