ST. LOUIS – An African-American senior chemist alleges his race was a factor in his termination from a pharmaceutical company.
Benzack B. Cooper filed a complaint on Nov. 26 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Huvepharma alleging violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was hired by the defendant in December 2016. He alleges that during his tenure with defendant, he was subjected to offensive and racially charged dialogue and was caused to suffer severe stress and mental anguish. He alleges the defendant's human resources department did not intervene. The suit states he was terminated in February.
The plaintiff holds Huvepharma responsible because the defendants allegedly discriminated against him because of his race and retaliated against him by terminating his employment for opposing discriminatory conduct.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, interest and attorney's fees and all further relief as the court deems proper and just. He is represented by Sheila R. Stuart of The Law Office of Sheila R. Stuart LLC in Clayton.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1822-CC11708