TALLAHASSEE -- Kessla Stanley and Sessaly Rose Transit, Inc. filed a complaint on October 3 in Leon County Circuit Court against the City of Tallahassee d/b/a Starmetro for race discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract.
According to the complaint, Stanley is a partial owner of Sessaly Rose Transit, which has subcontracted with Defendant to provide non-emergency medical transportation since 2002. Stanley alleges that in 2010, Sessaly Rose Transit initially won the bid for all of the transit work, but a subcommittee of the defendants decided that the transit company could not handle the contract despite its qualifications and gave the job to another company.
Stanley alleges that the board of the other company consists of members who are predominately white and the company is owned by a white male. Sessaly Rose Transit was given APD Med-Waiver Services and on May 1, 2014, Medicaid pulled out of the contract with Defendant, causing Sessaly Rose to no longer receive medicaid services from Defendant.
Stanley alleges the defendant also exempted Capital Transit, Inc. d/b/a Yellow Cab from the costly and laborious bidding process and gave customers to Yellow Cab that should have gone to Sessaly Rose Transit. Stanley alleges that because she is a Black woman, this was done out of discrimination and retaliation.
Stanley and Sessaly Rose Transit, Inc. seek equitable relief, general and compensatory damages, cost of suit and attorney fees. Stanley and Sessaly Rose Transit, Inc. are represented by Marie A. Mattox.
Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit in and for Leon County, Florida filing number 135795117