Verigent, Inc. And StarCom Communications, Inc. Sued by Verigent, Inc. Employee For Allegedly Creating A Racially Hostile Work Environment

African-American Employee of Verigent, Inc.Sues Verigent, Inc. And StarCom Communications, Inc. in Federal Court for Allegedly Creating A Racially Hostile Work Environment

CORNWALL, N.Y., Aug. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On July 31, 2023, Mr. Seth Felciano, an African-American employee of Verigent, Inc., filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Southern District") against his employer, Verigent, Inc., another contractor, StarCom Communications, Inc., and two individuals. In his lawsuit (Feliciano v. Verigent, Inc., et al, USDC, SDNY Civil Action No. 23-CV-06692), Mr. Feliciano alleges that, while working on a project assigned to him by Verigent, Inc., along with a contractor employed by StarCom Communications, Inc., ("StarCom"), he was subjected to a racially hostile work environment and retaliation for complaining about it.

Mr. Feliciano alleges that, approximately in March 2023, while working on the project, a Caucasian employed by StarCom showed a video of a gorilla running to the Foreman of the Project, a Caucasian employee of Verigent, and some technicians and stated, in sum and substance, that ? "this is a video of [Mr. Feliciano] running home".

Mr. Feliciano further alleges that, on May 3, 2023, in his and the Foreman's presence, the same StarCom employee wrapped a baton-like instrument with black tape and told Mr. Feliciano's Foreman and the rest of Mr. Feliciano's crew that this was his "n&gger beater" stick. Mr. Feliciano alleges that his Foreman did not advise the StarCom employee that this was prohibited nor absolutely uncalled for in any manner; but instead, stood there and participated in harasser's misconduct by asking him ? "you [the harasser] mean "n&gger" with an "A" right?" ? to which the harasser replied ? "no, with an "ER"". Thereafter, Mr. Feliciano alleges that, in a text exchange between Mr. Felicano and the Foreman, the Foreman stated: "I don't think [the harasser] meant any disrespect to you [Mr. Feliciano] at all."

Mr. Feliciano further alleges that, after he complained of the May 3rd incident to a more upper-level employee of Verigent, he has been subjected to unlawful retaliation by Verigent.

Mr. Feliciano is seeking substantial punitive damages and damages for pain and suffering and emotional/ physical distress.

Pull Quote

StarCom employee wrapped a baton-like instrument with black tape and told Mr. Feliciano's Foreman and the rest of Mr. Feliciano's crew that this was his "n&gger beater"

Media Contact

Jimmy M. Santos, Esq., Law Offices of Jimmy M. Santos, PLLC, 1 845-537-7820, [email protected], https://www.nycivilrightslaw.com/

SOURCE Verigent, Inc.