TAMPA — A woman says she suffered racial discrimination while employed at Surgery Partners LLC.
Melenisa Brown was a manager at Surgery Partners from April 16, 2018, until her termination on Jan. 7, 2020, according to a complaint filed Oct. 27 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Brown claims she was discriminated against and retaliated against. She claims DeEtte Amspaugh, her supervisor, purportedly displayed racial bias by dismissing qualified Black applicants and making racially insensitive remarks.
During a staff meeting, Amspaugh allegedly told Brown, in front of the team, "I am going to make you my slave."
Further incidents involved Amspaugh referring to Brown as "Aunt Jemima" and making inappropriate comments about her race, according to the suit.
Brown claims she raised objections to SP's Human Resources, however, the response was dismissive, with the HR representative stating that Amspaugh's behavior was not significant.
Brown claims she objected again in October 2019, resulting in advice to "document what is being said."
Amspugh also made inappropriate comments about Brown's knowledge of songs by Black artists and on Dec. 31, 2019, Brown emailed SP's HR Department, reiterating objections to racial discrimination.
Shortly after, on Jan. 7, 2020, SP terminated Brown's employment.
Brown is seeking compensatory damages. She is represented by Noah E. Storch of Richard Celler Legal in Davie.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida at Tampa case number: 8:23-cv-02464