Two more employees have filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of State, alleging they were subject to unfair treatment and a hostile environment for Black workers.
Jaqueline Griffin and Cherylann Sankar, who work at Metro Detroit branch offices, sued the department, as well as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and other officials in Wayne County Circuit Court on Friday, April 17.
A complaint alleges the employees were subject to discrimination and retaliation at work. Griffin and Sankar are represented by attorney Leonard Mungo, who is representing four other current and former MDOS employees who sued the department on similar grounds of alleged discriminatory practices in January. That lawsuit remains pending in Wayne County Circuit Court.
The newly filed lawsuit states Griffin and Sankar, who are both veteran workers in the department, were subject to unfair demotions and denied promotion opportunities they were qualified for. Additionally, the complaint alleges officials in the department did not take claims of racial discrimination from customers and other employees seriously when they were reported.
The plaintiffs seek monetary damages of $10 million for emotional distress, plus lost wages due to demotions.
“Defendants’ discrimination and retaliation against its African American employees who complain of unlawful discrimination is widespread and well-known throughout MDOS,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants have no effective system in place to track, correct, or prevent said unlawful discriminatory conduct. Defendants have been repeatedly notified of these unlawful racially discriminatory employment practices through complaints, grievances, and internal surveys, yet have knowingly failed to take corrective action.”
A spokesperson for MDOS denied the allegations in the lawsuit.
“While the plaintiffs have not yet officially served MDOS the lawsuit, we unequivocally refute these false allegations,” Chief Communications Officer Angela Benander said over email.
“The secretary and department leadership hold themselves and every employee to the highest legal and ethical standards across the board. We do not tolerate any discrimination, harassment, or retaliation and we are prepared to fight this case in court.”
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Patricia Perez Fresard, according to online court records. A status conference is scheduled for July.
Benson, a Democrat, is currently running for governor.
Two affidavits from former MDOS employees Heaster Wheeler and Angela Harness are attached to the lawsuit, in which both allege a hostile work environment for Black employees. Wheeler was Assistant Secretary of State and later served as an adviser. Harness was Customer Service Director and reached a $775,500 settlement with MDOS after suing the department over similar racial discrimination claims. State attorneys representing the department in the Harness lawsuit said the settlement was reached to avoid litigation costs.
The same affidavits were also included in the lawsuit filed in January.
You can reach Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Another MDOS lawsuit alleges discrimination against Black workers
Reporting by Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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