A Florida firefighter has taken legal action against his employer, alleging retaliatory discrimination that affected his career advancement. Stanley Mehu filed a complaint on October 7, 2024, in the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County, Florida, against Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The lawsuit claims that Mehu faced retaliation after filing a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
According to the complaint, Stanley Mehu has been employed by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue since March 2017 and had achieved satisfactory performance levels throughout his tenure. His commendable service led to a promotion to a Lieutenant position, pending formal placement. However, Mehu alleges that he experienced discriminatory and retaliatory treatment based on his race, color, and national origin during his employment. In response to these experiences, he filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC on April 12, 2023.
The situation escalated when Palm Beach County Fire Rescue removed Mehu from the Lieutenants’ Promotional Roster on August 31, 2023. This decision came after Mehu's EEOC filing and was perceived as unjustified and non-compliant with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) regarding promotions. The complaint asserts that this removal was an act of retaliation for engaging in protected activity under the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 (FCRA). "The Defendant’s conduct constitutes unlawful retaliation under the FCRA," states the complaint.
Mehu is seeking damages for what he describes as willful and malicious actions by his employer. He claims these actions have caused him irreparable harm including damage to reputation, loss of income and future earning capacity, as well as emotional distress. Furthermore, he seeks reasonable attorney's fees and costs associated with this litigation.
Represented by attorneys Chad E. Levy and Harris Nizel from Levy & Levy P.A., Mehu demands a jury trial to resolve these allegations against Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The Case ID: 502024CA009609XXXAMB.