Man sues WVU Hospitals for race discrimination

MORGANTOWN - A man is suing West Virginia University Hospitals Inc. after he claims he was discriminated against because of his race.

Richmond Nyamekye was hired on March 26, 2012, by the defendant as a Department Supprt Specialist assigned to work at the WVU School of Dentistry's Dean's Office with an hourly rate of $23.14 plus benefits, according to a complaint filed April 15 in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Nyamekye claims within one day of being employed by the defendant, he was asked by his supervisor, William G. Dumire to meet with him and two other information technicians, at which time Dumire stated to the co-workers that Nyamekye was different from them, "obviously referring to the plaintiff's skin color."

Dumire repeatedly harassed Nyamekye about various matters, including tardiness of five minutes late, leaving his work station to go get an ID badge out of his car, reporting to the Human Resources Department and eating at his work area, none of which were material to his job or work performance, according to the suit.

Nyamekye claims he was required to attend a mandatory trip to Washington, D.C., as part of his graduate program at WVU and was excused from work from April 2, 2012, through April 4, 2012.

Upon returning to work on April 5, 2012, Dumire approached Nyamekye and asked to acknowledge that he had read an email Dumire had sent to his personal email account on April 2, 2012, and discussed with him certain computer skills related to his prior experience in the area, according to the suit.

Nyamekye claims Dumire threatened immediate termination if he did not pass a required certification test, despite the fact that Nyamekye had six months from the date of employment to pass the test.

Dumire also offered to order Nyamekye the needed study materials for the test, but never did so, according to the suit.

Nyamekye claims on April 5, 2012, Dumire requested that Nyamekye resign and told him that he had until April 23, 2012, to do so.

During the course of his employment, Nyamekye was restricted access to areas of the department necessary to access certain equipment or computers needed to do his job and on April 16, 2012, after only working 11 days, Nyamekye's employment was terminated, according to the suit.

Nyamekye claims during the course of his employment he was alienated, degraded and discriminated against because of his race.

As a result of the defendant's actions, Nyamekye suffered physical and emotional pain and suffering; economic and financial loss; fear; emotional distress; mental anguish; annoyance and inconvenience; anxiety; stress; chagrin; and other injuries, according to the suit.

Nyamekye is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Crystal Hawkins Castleberry of Castleberry Law Offices.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 13-C-288