BENTON – St. Clair County pays blacks less than whites for the same work, former employee Aritha Stanley-Adams of Swansea alleged at U.S. district court on Jan. 26.
Her counsel Sarah Hunt of St. Louis claims the county engages in this behavior as a policy, practice, or custom.
“Although she was one of defendant’s most experienced employees, defendant paid plaintiff less than similarly situated white employees,” the suit claims.
The suit does not name individual defendants but alleges liability for actions of assessor Jennifer Gomric-Minton and human resource manager Frank Bergman.
Eight blacks in the assessor’s office and six blacks in other offices allegedly complained to Stanley-Adams that the county paid whites more.
The suit also alleges harassment and retaliation, claiming the county’s actions caused Stanley-Adams to retire in 2020.
Stanley-Adams, who retired at a little over $15 an hour, claims her title and pay never reflected her actual duties.
She claims she performed in a satisfactory manner and never received a bad review and performed with such skill that supervisors tasked her with training others.
“Plaintiff had more seniority and work experience than defendant’s white employees that were paid more for the same work or promoted over plaintiff to higher job titles and pay,” the suit claims.
Stanley-Adams claims she completed all duties her supervisors assigned whether they were in her job description or not. She also claims she didn’t receive promotions or raises commensurate with additional work and white employees did.
Stanley-Adams allegedly wrote a letter to Gomric-Minton and supervisor Ann Barnum about raises and promotions in 2015.
During a meeting, “Ms. Gomric-Minton and Ms. Barnum dismissed all of plaintiff’s complaints and denied any racial disparity in the office,” the suit claims.
The suit claims Gomric-Minton sent a letter to Stanley-Adams stating she received all raises the county board recommended.
The letter allegedly stated that all employment decisions and promotions were based on the best interests of the operation of the office.
Stanley-Adams claims she found out the denials were untrue in 2018, when she gained access to St. Clair County’s pay registers.
She allegedly sent a letter to Gomric-Minton, Bergman, and county board chairman Mark Kern in 2019.
“Plaintiff never received a response to her letter,” the suit claims.
The complaint seeks recovery of lost wages and benefits, damages for emotional distress, compensatory damages, interest, and attorney fees.
Nicole Matlock and Amber Kempf, colleagues of Hunt at the Kennedy Hunt firm, also represent Stanley-Adams.
The court clerk randomly assigned Senior District Judge Phil Gilbert.