ST. LOUIS - Christopher Collins filed a complaint in June in the Circuit Court of New Madrid Country against Agrium U.S., Inc. for racial discrimination and retaliation.
Collins, a 52-year-old Black man, alleges that while working as a loader from September 2010 through Aug. 13, 2019, for the defendant, he suffered racial discrimination and retaliation.
Beginning in February 2015, Collins alleges that his workplace began treating Collins differently because of his race and that his supervisor at the time, Eric Chapman, was verbally hostile and aggressive as employees were allowed to use the "N" word. In late 2017 or early 2018 Eric Chapman was replaced by Dane Werner as the new supervisor.
Collins alleges he began pointing out work problems and proposing solutions to those problems, but Werner allegedly began denigrating Collins on the basis of his race, including, but not limited to, calling him “lazy” and cursing at him.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, the denigration and unfair treatment continued, as Defendant allegedly began to exclude Collins from employee events. Collins was fired on Aug. 13, 2019, in alleged retaliation of reports of racial discrimination and hostile work environment.
Collins seeks lost wages and lost benefits; damages for embarrassment, humiliation, damage to reputation, emotional distress; punitive damages in an amount sufficient to deter Defendant and others from like conduct; attorney fees and costs; pre-judgment interest. Collins is represented by Laura Clubb.
The defendant removed the case to St. Louis federal court in August.