ST. LOUIS – A Deerfield, Illinois employer is alleged to have discriminated against a Missouri man because of his heterosexual sexual orientation.
Lamont Oakley filed a complaint on Oct. 22 in the St. Louis Circuit Court against Essendant Industrial LLC citing the Missouri Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was employed by the defendant as a warehouse employee in St. Louis. He alleges a co-worker, Brian Bailey, disclosed to the plaintiff and another co-worker that he is gay and that Bailey made jokes and disparaging remarks to the plaintiff, who is heterosexual.
The suit states on June 9, the plaintiff and Bailey were both told to leave work for the day after a meeting with a supervisor, and Bailey allegedly threatened to kill the plaintiff and his family. The suit states Bailey was summoned for a charge of individual peace disturbance after an investigation by the St. Louis police.
The suit states on June 20, 2017, Bailey and the plaintiff were terminated from their employment. The plaintiff alleges Bailey has been rehired by the defendant but the plaintiff has not.
The plaintiff holds Essendant Industrial LLC responsible because the defendant allegedly discriminated against him on the basis of his sexual orientation and retaliated against him because of his complaints of discriminatory treatment.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages of more than $25,000, interest, costs, attorney's fees, reinstatement and all other additional relief. He is represented by Jo Ann Karll and Joseph A. Montecillo in High Ridge.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number 1822-CC11472