TAMPA — A former Tampa dental office employee is claiming she faced racial comments about her appearance and was fired because she is African American.
Kenyah Mitchell filed a complaint April 29 in the Circuit Court of Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County against Advanced Oral Surgery of Tampa Bay P.A., alleging race discrimination.
According to her complaint, Mitchell, an African American female, worked for Advanced Oral Surgery from 2019 through Jan 31, 2020. She alleges that throughout her employment, she faced harassment, "unwelcome comments about her hair and appearance" that were related to her race.
Mitchell specifically alleges that in January of 2020, she was terminated for "excessive cell phone use" despite Advanced Oral being aware that she needed to "communicate with her daughter's school regarding child care," and that white employees were allowed to use their cell phones without losing their jobs. She claims the treatment by her former employer violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act.
Mitchell seeks monetary relief of more than $30,000, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Jonathan Zaifert of Caglianone & Miller PA in Tampa.