REDWOOD CITY - Numerous allegations including discrimination and harassment were filed against the City of Redwood, the Redwood City Fire Department and Redwood City FD Battalion Chief Greg DaCunha on March 18 in the San Mateo County Superior Court.
Plaintiff Joseph Echema began working as a firefighter for the defendant in 2012.
Echema says he has been subjected to a long history of racial hostility, harassment and disparity due to his race and Nigerian origin, including offensive jokes, microaggressions and eventually retaliation when he attempted to report the racially motivated discrimination to superiors.
The plaintiff says that his work environment became unbearable at his colleagues' blatant racism, including highly offensive remarks made while watching news broadcasting of Black Lives Matter protests and coverage of violence between law enforcement and Black youth.
Echema further accuses the FD of denying him promotions and giving/taking away job duties based on his race, and making inappropriate remarks and assumes about his trips to his home country of Nigeria.
The defendants are charged with discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon race and national origin, harassment based on race and national origin, failure to investigate and prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation, violation of California labor code and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Echema demands a jury trial to determine the damages he is entitled. He is represented by the Benjamin Law Group.