New Jersey problem gambling NGO calls for dismissal of racial discrimination lawsuit
Lawyers for the New Jersey Commission on Compulsive Gambling (CCG) are asking a judge to dismiss a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by a former executive.
Plaintiff Neva Pryor, an African-American woman, sued the Hamilton, New Jersey-based nonprofit in April 2022 after the organization refused to renew her contract. She claimed it was in retaliation for making a racial discrimination complaint against CCG chairman Fred Hogan.
According to the lawsuit, Pryor has an impressive background in mental health and addiction, specifically gambling disorder.
Pryor alleges that shortly after taking office in 2016, Hogan, who is white, began speaking to her in a "rude and condescending manner," a tone she said Hogan would not adopt toward other white workers.
Hogan is a former investigator with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJOPD). He was instrumental in the 1966 acquittal of African-American boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who was wrongly convicted of murder.
"Racist Comment"
On or about December 11, 2018, when Hogan walked over to greet someone at a CCG Christmas party, Pryor politely asked her to excuse her. Hogan allegedly responded: "Don't let me get Black with you."
Plaintiff was “appalled by the racist comments” and immediately reported it to the human resources manager. However, the CCG did not investigate, according to the lawsuit.
Since then, Hogan's "discriminatory conduct toward Plaintiffs increased," including increased micromanagement and inappropriate involvement in day-to-day operations, the lawsuit states. He also prohibited her from communicating with other board members, even though it was her duty to cooperate with the board.
On February 15, 2021, Pryor filed a racial discrimination complaint with the board’s vice president. Her employment was terminated about five months later.
Counter-allegation
In a motion for summary judgment filed last week, CCG's attorneys noted that the organization investigated the plaintiff's February 2021 complaint. Ironically, it was during the course of the investigation that evidence of the complainant's alleged misconduct emerged that led to her termination.
CCG documents say this involved bullying other people and staff, using offensive language towards staff and others and calling a now-retired staff member "Ken" a "jerk".
The investigation concluded that she "engaged in various inappropriate/inappropriate conduct, including... ethical violations... inappropriate conduct through the use of inappropriate language, profanity and profanity... and inadequate leadership during wellness meetings." "." "
Additionally, court records show that Pryor admitted to much of this conduct during meetings of a CCG subcommittee discussing the investigation and in depositions related to her lawsuit.
Multiple additions
CCG lawyers claimed that Pryor had not suffered "any adverse employment action" as a result of the alleged discriminatory treatment. Instead, Pryor received multiple salary increases and positive performance reviews during his tenure,” the CCG document states.
Furthermore, much of the conduct alleged by the plaintiffs – the most prominent examples of which are talked about in one way or another – is not racist behaviour,” CCG lawyers argued.
"Furthermore, even assuming that Hogan made racist remarks toward Pryor in December 2018, this is clearly not sufficient to constitute conduct so severe/pervasive that it would alter the terms and conditions of employment or render the work environment hostile or abusive. "They claimed.
A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
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Source: www.casino.org
