A former Maryville Manor employee claims the nursing home wrongly terminated her after she filed a complaint alleging the company racially discriminated against her.
Nichol Becoats filed a complaint June 2 in Madison County Circuit Court against Unlimited Development doing business as Maryville Manor.
Becoats, an African American, claims during the course of her employment for Maryville Manor, she and other African American employees were handed less desirable job assignments than their Caucasian counterparts. In addition, others uttered racial slurs against Becoats and her black co-workers throughout their work day, according to the complaint.
Becoats reported the alleged racism to her supervisors at Maryville Manor, and on Aug. 19, 2008, submitted a formal written complaint to them about the persistent discrimination she encountered, the suit states.
On Aug. 20, 2008, Maryville Manor fired Becoats, the complaint says.
"There was a causal connection between Plaintiff's opposition to unlawful discrimination and Defendant's adverse action, namely, Defendant terminated Plaintiff's employment because Plaintiff made oral and written reports to her supervisors regarding the unlawful discrimination," the suit states.
Because of her termination, Becoats claims she lost past and future wages and benefits and suffered emotional distress, humiliation, mental anguish and loss of a normal life.
Becoats seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, costs, attorneys' fees, pre-judgment interest and other relief the court deems just.
Kenneth J. Brennan of The Kenneth Brennan Firm in Collinsville will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-587.
Nursing home worker claims racial discrimination in suit
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