EAST ST. LOUIS - A former Carbondale Park District manager claims white administrators with similar qualifications and experience were paid more money than he was.
Michael Day filed a federal lawsuit on November 18 in the District Court Southern District of Illinois against the Carbondale Park District for alleged violation of equal protection, race discrimination, retaliation, discrimination due to race and violation of Illinois Human Rights Act - retaliation.
According to the complaint, Day, an African American, was employed by the Carbondale Park District as the most senior and experienced manager. In 2004, Day claims he discovered that the park district paid him less than other white managerial employees with similar or less experience. He filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which was settled.
In May 2020, Day filed a FOIA request concerning the base salaries for all park district managerial employees. The defendant allegedly responded by offering Day voluntary retirement, which was declined. Another request was made in June 2020. On July 6, 2020, the park district sent a response to the FOIA request showing once again that it paid similarly situated white managerial employees more money, the suit states. Day claims he was then locked out of administrative offices, wrote up for the first time in 25 years, not permitted to retrieve his mail and ultimately forced to resign as of October 1, 2020.
Day claims he was caused to suffer an ongoing discriminatory culture, policies, customs and procedures as well as emotional distress.
Day seeks an award for lost wages and benefits, front wages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, pre-and-post judgment interest, attorney’s fees and costs. Day is represented by Sarah Jane Hunt of Kennedy Hunt PC in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:21-cv-1452