Employee Fired After Commenting On Marijuana Email; Files Suit

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Hemp News

​After being fired for responding to a coworker’s email about marijuana, a Louisiana man has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Pan America Laboratories in federal court in New Orleans.

Krisner O. Green, who filed the suit on September 8, was employed by Pan America from July 2010 until his firing in September 2010, the lawsuit says. Green says he was subjected to racial remarks and a racially hostile work environment during his three-month employment, reports Michelle Keahey at The Louisiana Record.

In September an email was sent to several coworkers that contained a link to an article in a local online newspaper about the street value of marijuana seized in an arrest, according to the lawsuit.
Green replied to the email, regarding the claimed value of the marijuana, that “it was crazy and not possible.”
A few days later, the company fired Green and two other African Americans, claiming that the email was “not within the culture or beliefs” of the company.
Referring to what he called a racially hostile work environment at the company, Green said the company owner referred to black employees as “them” and “y’all.”
Green, the plaintiff, is asking the court to issue an injunction preventing Pan America Laboratories, the defendant, from further unlawful practices and for an award of back pay, interest, bonuses, pension, lost benefits, compensatory damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of reputation, embarrassment, humiliation, punitive damages, court costs and attorney’s fees.
The plaintiff is being represented by New Orleans attorney Victor R. Farrugia.
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