JACKSONVILLE - A former employee has filed a discrimination lawsuit against a Planet Fitness location in Palm Coast, alleging that he was harassed and eventually terminated from his position because he is Black.
Plaintiff Antony Richburg filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against PF Palm Coast, LLC, also known as Planet Fitness, citing allegations of racial discrimination and harassment in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992.
According to court documents, Richburg, a Black male, was hired to work as a personal trainer at a Planet Fitness location in Palm Coast. While he worked there, Richburg says he faced discriminatory treatment and a hostile work environment, including derogatory comments about his race from customers and employees. Alleged incidents include discriminatory remarks, differential treatment in job duties, disruptive behavior during his training classes and physical aggression from a supervisor.
Despite reporting these incidents to management and human resources, Richburg says the defendant failed to take appropriate action to address the discriminatory behavior and harassment. Richburg says he was terminated from his position in December 2022 because of his race and was in retaliation for his complaints.
Richburg is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, back pay, front pay, lost benefits, reinstatement, attorney fees, court costs, interest and other relief. He is represented by attorney Neil L. Henrichsen of Henrichsen Law Group in Jacksonville.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida case number 3:23-CV-01173-HLA-LLL