A former employee has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. Kareem Brown filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on August 22, 2024, against JBS Souderton, Inc.
Kareem Brown, an African-American man who worked for JBS Souderton from April 2019 until May 20, 2022, claims he was subjected to a hostile work environment and discriminatory practices based on his race. According to the complaint, Brown began his employment as a Shackler and earned several promotions, ultimately becoming a Purchasing Supervisor in January 2021. Despite maintaining satisfactory job performance throughout his tenure, Brown alleges that after his promotion, he faced increasing racial discrimination from his colleagues and superiors.
The complaint details numerous instances of racial harassment by Ibrahim Kafi, another Purchasing Supervisor of Middle Eastern descent. Kafi allegedly made derogatory comments about African-Americans and frequently used racial slurs in conversations. Brown also claims that Kafi received better compensation and more vacation days despite holding the same position and performing similar job functions. When Brown raised these issues with Heather Reigner, the Purchasing Manager, she dismissed his concerns without conducting any investigation or taking corrective action.
Further allegations include disparate treatment compared to other employees such as Al Cittito, a Caucasian individual who was promoted to a managerial position similar to Brown's but received higher pay despite being trained by Brown himself. Additionally, Kafi reportedly made racist remarks about Brown's unborn child due to its mixed heritage.
Brown asserts that when he complained about these discriminatory practices to Reigner and other supervisors, no action was taken to address his grievances. Instead, he faced retaliation for voicing his concerns. For instance, Reigner denied him leave during a family emergency and required him to work remotely from a hospital emergency room. She also refused to document meetings discussing Kafi’s racist remarks and consistently rejected Brown’s hiring recommendations while retaining underqualified employees.
On April 20, 2022, Reigner assigned Brown tasks outside of his job description without proper compensation or protective equipment—an act which he believes was further retaliation for opposing workplace discrimination. Unable to endure the hostile work environment any longer, Brown felt compelled to resign on May 20, 2022.
In his lawsuit, Brown seeks damages for lost earnings and benefits due to constructive termination of employment. He is also asking for compensatory damages for emotional distress caused by the discriminatory practices at JBS Souderton. Additionally, he requests punitive damages along with pre- and post-judgment interest and coverage of legal costs including attorney fees.
Representing Kareem Brown is Sidney L. Gold from The Gold Law Firm P.C., while the case will be presided over by judges assigned under Case ID: 2:24-cv-04389.