Racial discrimination claimed in suit against Steel Works and staffing company

A man is suing a steel company and the temporary staffing company that placed him there, citing racial discrimination.

Michael Starnes filed a lawsuit July 25 in the Madison County Judicial Court against Steel Works L.L.C., Employer Solutions Staffing Group IV L.L.C., doing business as LFI Staffing, and Employer Solutions Staffing Group IV L.L.C., doing business as Less Staffing, citing civil rights violations.

The lawsuit states the staffing company placed Starnes at Steel Works for employment in February 2013. Starnes, who is African American, states he was subjected to racial harassment on the job and was passed over for certain jobs in lieu of less qualified white men. The lawsuit states a vile comment was made to him April 25, 2013, and Starnes was terminated after he reported it. He was also terminated from the staffing company, the complaint states.

Starnes is seeking the court to declare the company's actions to be illegal and to award him lost wages, benefits and other compensation, compensatory damages in excess of $50,000, punitive damages in excess of $50,000, court costs and any other award the court deems proper. Starnes is represented by attorney Lee W. Barron of Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 14-L-1041.