PRINCETON – A former Bluefield Regional Medical Center says he was subjected to racial slurs and discrimination and wrongful termination.
John A. Saunders, who is Black, filed his complaint in Mercer Circuit Court against HHS Culinary and Nutrition Solutions LLC and Hospital Housekeeping Systems LLC, both of which are based in Dripping Springs, Texas. They are contracted to work at BRMC.
According to the complaint, Saunders worked for the defendants at the hospital. He says he was yelled at for doing his work and complained of use of the “N-word.”
“Plaintiff requested that the “N-word” to not be used, yet it continued,” the complaint states. “Plaintiff was terminated for false allegations of ‘terrorist threats’ when he questioned authority. Caucasian employees were not terminated for any reason even though many did not show up for their scheduled shift. Plaintiff was called lazy even though he was working full time.”
He says he was fired October 16, 2019, after having worked there for more than three years.
Saunders accuses the defendants of violating the West Virginia Human Rights Act. He says he was treated poorly and terminated because of his race. He seeks damages for indignity, embarrassment, humiliation and emotional distress.
He seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney fees, court costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief.
The defendants, in their answer filed in December, deny the allegations and seek to have the case dismissed.
Saunders is being represented by D. Adrian Hoosier of the Hoosier Law Firm in Charleston. The defendants are being represented by Douglas C. Hart and Anthony C. Sunseri of Burns White in Wheeling. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge William Sadler.
Mercer Circuit Court case number 21-C-202