FRESNO — An employee is suing Richard V. Spencer, U.S. Navy Secretary, claiming he was subjected to a hostile work environment, religious discrimination and retaliation.
William Albro filed a complaint on Aug. 24, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, against Richard V. Spencer, alleging that the U.S. Navy breached its duty of good faith and fair dealings.
Albro, who is a chemist, worked at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at the Naval Air Weapons Station since November 2006. Albro was an employee of the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake.
The plaintiff alleges that he was treated unfairly and discriminated against because he was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He filed an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint on April 8, 2016, claiming an unsupportive work environment.
Albro alleges that he suffered economic and compensatory damages as a result of the alleged unlawful conduct of the defendants to suspend his employment as retaliation for filing the EEO complaint.
The plaintiff holds Richard V. Spencer responsible due to his official capacity and jurisdiction. He alleges that officers of the Department of Navy subjected him to a hostile work environment by refusing to provide adequate facilities to conduct research and projects.
Albro also claims he was accused of having an unauthorized gun in his former office, and that naval officers attempted to gain access to his explosives safes in violation of policy.
He claims that he was subjected to intimidation and embarrassment after someone wrote “to be fired” next to his name on a public announcement board.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant for compensatory damages, reinstatement, injunctive or equitable relief, litigation costs, attorney fees, and equitable relief the Court deems appropriate.
He is represented by David L. Scher, John T. Harrington and R. Scott Oswald of The Employment Law Group, PC in Washington.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Case number 18-cv-01156