JACKSONVILLE – An African-American male is suing his former employer over allegations he was wrongfully terminated after a workplace injury.
Terrance Haywood filed a complaint on April 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division against Packaging Corp. of America citing racial discrimination, retaliation and violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that he suffered a back injury while on the job in January 2013. The plaintiff holds Packaging Corp. of America responsible because the defendant's management allegedly engaged in a campaign to treat him differently from other Caucasian employees and harassed him about his attendance and job performance after his injury. He alleges he was singled out to undergo repeated random drug tests in a short period of time. He alleges he was terminated for no call/no show in April 2013, but claims he had contacted his supervisors to inform them he would be late that day due to a medical appointment.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks reinstatement to a substantially equivalent position, compensation for back pay, front pay and damages, reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expenses, prejudgment and post-judgment interest and for such other relief as the court may deem just and appropriate. He is represented by Neil L. Henricksen of Henrichsen Siegel PLLC in Jacksonville.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division Case number 3:16-cv-00420