The whistleblowers who recently exposed two high-level school administrators – Superintendent Richard Como and Athletic Director Jim Donato – for their offensive, racist texts have filed a lawsuit in federal court, alleging that other district employees retaliated against them, causing severe stress and jeopardizing future employment. Philadelphia employment lawyer, Sidney L. Gold of Sidney L. Gold & Associates represents the plaintiffs in this whistleblower/retaliation case. According to the suit which was filed in U.S. District Court last week, Abdallah Hawa and Teresa Powell stated that district officials unfairly scrutinized their work, harassed them, took away their job responsibilities and threatened their employment.
Moreover, the lawsuit claims that instead of focusing on the offensive texts sent by Como and Donato, the district used its resources to investigate Hawa and Powell. Staff was told to document every interaction with the two whistleblowers and attempts were made to terminate their employment. Powell states that she was refused her annual hour four percent pay increase in July of 2014. She also alleges that administrators also passed her over for a promotion. Hawa experienced similar forms of harassment.
According to Sidney L. Gold, attorney for the plaintiffs, his clients felt that they had exhausted all of their options, bringing their case before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. After months of harassment, stress, mental anguish, lost earnings and pain and suffering, Hawa and Powell are suing the school district and asking for financial compensation.
To read more about this case as reports by CBS Philly, click here.
If you or someone you know has been harassed, threatened, retaliated against or wrongfully terminated from your job due to your race, it is likely that your employer may have abused state and federal laws. Philadelphia whistleblower lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates will fight hard to protect your rights and make sure that you are fairly compensation for any lost wages and any pain and suffering you may have experienced. To set up a consultation, call 215-569-1999 or complete an online contact form. Our offices are located in Philadelphia and we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
