TAMPA - Signstar of Tampa was brought to court for allegedly discriminating against and harassing an employee that had a stutter.
The complaint was filed on April 29 in the Hillsborough County Circuit Court by plaintiff Giovanni Hernandez. Hernandez was hired as a sign installer for the defendant in 2016.
According to the plaintiff, Signstar's instillation manager Ozzie Winston repeatedly mocked, belittled and bullied Hernandez because of his stutter beginning in September of 2019. Hernandez informed the CEO of Winston's behavior in February 2020 and while the harassment temporarily subsided, it became worse within a few weeks, the suit claims.
Winston then allegedly told Hernandez that he was going to be punished for reporting the harassment, and allegedly called him slurs and threatened to hit him, in front of other employees.
Hernandez went to the CEO again about Winston's bullying, but the CEO allegedly terminated Hernandez in retaliation.
The defendant is charged with disability discrimination and retaliation for engaging in protected activity.
The plaintiff is represented by Printy and Printy PA of Tampa.