EDWARDSVILLE — An African American employee at Southern Illinois University alleges a white co-worker intentionally spit on his car windshield and door handle last year.
Patrick Long filed a complaint Aug. 30 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Michael Grandy, alleging battery, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Long, an African American male, is employed as an architect at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, according to his suit. He alleges that his co-worker, Grandy, is a white male and commenced in "a course of conduct without provocation that ended in arrest" in July 2020. Long specifically claims Grandy's conduct included "spitting of phlegm, sputum and body fluids" on his car, including the windshield and door handle.
Long claims he was "in fear" of Grandy's "imminent harmful conduct," that he was in "imminent apprehension of battery" and that Grandy's contact was "harmful, offensive, degrading and threatening."
Long seeks compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. He is represented by Brian Stokes of The Stokes Law Office in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-001054