SACRAMENTO – An Elk Grove resident alleges he was treated differently while employed by the city of Sacramento because he is African-American.
Byron H. Levy filed a complaint on Aug. 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against the city of Sacramento alleging discrimination.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff began his employment with the defendant in January 2004. He alleges that he was subjected to different terms and conditions of employment as a street construction laborer compared to other co-workers of different race. He alleges he filed a discrimination charge with the city in 2006 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a determination of discrimination in 2007.
He alleges he filed a complaint in 2015 with the EEOC and later one with the city's Office of Civil Rights and the defendant retaliated against him by suspending him and denying him promotional opportunities and his transfer requests to other departments.
The plaintiff holds the city of Sacramento responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to take reasonable steps to prevent discrimination against him and retaliated against him for engaging in protected activity.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant for general and special damages, costs of suit, attorney's fees, and further relief as the court may deem just. He is represented by Emmanuel C. Akudinobi and Chijioke O. Ikonte of Law Offices of Akudinobi & Ikonte in Los Angeles and Emenike Iroegbu of Law Offices of Emenike Iroegbu in Sacramento.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California case number 2:18-cv-02387