EAST ST. LOUIS — A readjustment therapist is suing his supervisor and the acting secretary of Veterans Affairs after he was allegedly subjected to racial discrimination.
Lonnie Lucas filed a complaint on March 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Robert D. Snyder and Stephen Bray, alleging Bray made racially offensive comments and gestures toward the plaintiff on a frequent basis.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 10, 2015, he learned that he was being commented upon based on the color of his skin. He claims he was subjected to racist comments on at least 12 occasions during the previous eight or nine months of his employment.
As a result, Lucas claims he suffered stress, anxiety and sought medical attention.
The plaintiff alleges Snyder failed to take prompt and effective remedial action to end the harassment and failed to provide the plaintiff the same resources, support and pay as similarly situated Caucasian co-workers, which made his job performance more difficult.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for an amount in excess of $75,000 and for further relief as this Court deems just and proper under the circumstances.
He is represented by Derek J. Siegel of Kuehn, Beasley and Young, PC in Belleville.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:17-cv-00269