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Tag: Marko Law

  • Detroit nightclub sued over alleged racist and homophobic abuse of worker – Detroit Metro Times

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    A downtown Detroit restaurant and nightclub is facing a civil rights lawsuit after an employee says he was subjected to racist and homophobic slurs, physically assaulted by a coworker on the job, and then fired after complaining that management failed to protect him.

    The lawsuit, filed this week in Wayne County Circuit Court by Marko Law, was brought on behalf of Rashard Mason, a Black gay man who worked at The Greek/Level Two, a popular downtown Detroit restaurant and nightclub owned by Plaka Restaurant, L.L.C.

    According to the complaint, Mason was subjected to a severe and unprovoked verbal and physical attack by a coworker during a July 18 shift. The harassment, which Mason alleges was based on his race and sexual orientation, was captured on video and witnessed by a supervisor.

    The lawsuit alleges the coworker, Marissa Santana, repeatedly screamed racial and homophobic slurs at Mason, including the N-word, “black boy,” “faggot,” and “homo,” while also throwing her phone at him in what the lawsuit says was an act of physical aggression.

    Rashard Mason is suing The Greek/Level Two after alleging he was fired after complaining about homophobic and racist slurs. Credit: Courtesy of Marko Law

    Some of the slurs were captured on video by another employee, who appeared visibly horrified while filming the outburst. The lawsuit alleges the voice on the recording is Santana, who can be heard using the N-word, complaining about having a “Black boy working here,” and calling Mason a “little bitch.”

    Mason reported the incident the next day to his supervisor, identified in the lawsuit as “Mike.” In a text message quoted directly in the complaint, Mason wrote: “Last night was a lot for me. I don’t only feel violated but upset because I wasn’t defended nor protected. I was called all types of faggots & niggers.”

    According to the lawsuit, the supervisor acknowledged the slurs, responding, “I threw her out because of what she was saying to you,” but then minimized the incident by telling Mason, “Don’t let it bother you.”

    The complaint alleges that aside from removing Santana for the remainder of that single shift, management took no meaningful disciplinary or corrective action to address the harassment or ensure Mason’s safety at work.

    About a week later, Mason learned that Santana was still employed by the company and working at The Greek, which operates in the same building and under the same ownership as Level Two, according to the lawsuit.

    When Mason confronted his supervisor about Santana’s continued employment, the complaint says the supervisor attempted to dismiss the concern by claiming that The Greek and Level Two were “technically separate companies,” an explanation the lawsuit disputes, noting that Mason’s paychecks were issued by a single legal entity: “PLAKA RESTAURANT, L.L.C. DBA THE GREEK OR LEVEL TWO.”

    Less than 24 hours after Mason again complained about the situation, he was fired, the lawsuit alleges.

    “When terminating Plaintiff, Defendant’s management stated, ‘we are just going to part ways,’ and provided no legitimate reason for the decision,” the complaint states.

    “Upon information and belief, Plaintiff was terminated in retaliation for his complaints regarding the severe racial and homophobic harassment he endured,” the lawsuit alleges.

    The complaint accuses Plaka Restaurant, L.L.C. of violating Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, alleging disparate treatment based on race and sexual orientation, the creation of a hostile work environment, and unlawful retaliation.

    The lawsuit seeks damages for lost wages, emotional distress, humiliation, mental anguish, and other harms, as well as attorney fees and costs.

    “This case is about standing up to hate in all its forms,” Jon Marko, founder of Marko Law, said in a statement. “No one should have to endure being called racial and homophobic slurs at work—let alone be fired for speaking out about it. Michigan law is clear: discrimination and retaliation have no place in the workplace.”

    The lawsuit alleges that both Mason’s race and sexual orientation “were factors that made a difference in Defendant’s treatment of Plaintiff.”

    Plaka Restaurant, L.L.C. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


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    Steve Neavling

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  • Shinola Hotel partner responds to ‘baseless’ discrimination lawsuit

    Shinola Hotel partner responds to ‘baseless’ discrimination lawsuit

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    The Shinola Hotel’s operating partner has responded to a racial discrimination lawsuit filed earlier this month on behalf of a Black Detroit man who claims his resume was ignored until he resubmitted it with the white-sounding name “John Jebrowski.”

    In a statement, Sage Hospitality called the lawsuit “baseless” and touted its diverse workforce.

    “Unfortunately, it is clear that the plaintiff’s attorney is spreading these false allegations through the media in an attempt to intimidate the company and cause reputational and financial harm,” Sage Hospitality Group president Daniel del Olmo said.

    “Here are the facts: since Sage Hospitality took over operations of the Shinola Hotel in November 2023, more than 78% of the new hires self-identify as people of color and 66% of those new hires self-identify as Black or African American,” he continued. “71% of the employees who have been promoted since Sage Hospitality took over operations identify as people of color and 57% of those promoted identify as Black or African American.”

    He added, “Today, almost 75% of our team members are people of color. 60% of those team members are Black. Our diverse workforce is represented on every level of our organization ranging from entry level employees to directors who serve on our executive leadership team.”

    Sage Hospitality notes that a number of the positions that plaintiff Dwight Jackson, 27, applied for were given to other Black applicants.

    “Our preliminary review of the facts reveal significant inconsistencies with the plaintiff’s allegations in this lawsuit,” the statement continues. “Of the four roles for which the plaintiff applied, three of them were filled by Black applicants. Both of the positions the plaintiff applied for using the false name ‘John Jebrowski’ were filled by Black people. It is important to note that all of these positions were filled prior to this lawsuit.”

    The statement continues, “While we can not disclose further details as it relates to this specific matter, we want to assure you, our team members and our community, that discrimination of any kind will never be tolerated. Sage Hospitality has a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion and is recognized as a national leader in hospitality. We believe that everyone benefits from a diverse and inclusive environment and will continue to foster an inclusive workplace.”

    The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jackson by Marko Law, PLLC. The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    According to the lawsuit, Jackson has “extensive” hospitality experience and applied to work at the luxury hotel multiple times between January and April of this year without getting any response.

    After he applied as “John Jebrowski,” he claimed he got a response within a week.

    The lawsuit alleges that the incident is a violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

    After this article was published, Marko Law provided a statement to Metro Times.

    “The evidence in this case is clear,” the statement reads. “Sage Hospitality hides behind being a ‘diverse’ company on its face. However, evidence suggests the complete opposite when a deeper dive is done. There have been numerous witnesses that have come forward, stating that multiple black employees were terminated from their roles or were not hired because they were not ‘luxury enough.’ Furthermore, when Sage Hospitality hires black employees, they are constantly overlooked for promotions even though they are more qualified. Sage Hospitality simply does enough to look good on paper while hiding the truth from reality. This is a common defense tactic that Marko Law sees in racial discrimination claims, and this case is no different.”

    This article was updated with a statement from Marko Law.

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    Lee DeVito

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  • Young Black students frequently called n-word, ‘monkeys’ at rural Michigan school, lawsuit states

    Young Black students frequently called n-word, ‘monkeys’ at rural Michigan school, lawsuit states

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    Parents of five Black elementary and middle school students in Livingston County are suing the district, alleging their children endured “severe, pervasive, and persistent” racist comments as administrators looked the other way.

    The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court by the prominent civil rights law firm Marko Law, says the students at Pathfinder Middle School and Navigator Upper Elementary School were called the n-word, “monkeys,” and “cotton pickers,” among other derogatory slurs.

    Despite a repeated pattern of white students mocking Black children, administrators at Pinckney Community Schools have failed to “take any meaningful action to correct the behavior or end the racism,” according to the lawsuit.

    The students are as young as 11 years old.

    At Pinckney Community Schools, 92.3% of the students are white.

    The lawsuit also alleges that Black students are disciplined more harshly than white students. In one case, the district refused to punish the harassers “out of fear of labeling them a ‘racist,’ while the harassed child was suspended for two days,” according to the lawsuit.

    “Any school district has a duty and obligation to look out for the welfare and wellbeing of its students,” Jon Marko, principal attorney and founder of Marko Law, said in a statement Wednesday. “Not only did Pinckney Community Schools breach its duty when it failed to protect these children from racial discrimination, but it also failed to act or protect from the incessant bullying and humiliation the children experienced. As a consequence, racism continues to permeate throughout the school district. No parent should be scared to send a child to school for fear of racial harassment.”

    Metro Times couldn’t immediately reach district administrators for comment.

    The lawsuit was filed against the district, Superintendent Rick Todd, and principals Janet McDole and Lori Sandula.

    According to the lawsuit, the school failed to review the incidents collectively to determine if there is a racist, hostile environment. And the harassers who were disciplined faced lenient corrective action, the lawsuit claims.

    Marko also alleges that district administrators are not properly trained in investigating harassment complaints. In addition, the administrators failed to accurately record the incidents of harassment and didn’t follow school procedures to address the behavior.

    The lawsuit lists multiple, troubling incidents of harassment. At Pathfinder Elementary School, one student, identified as S.C. in the lawsuit, was physically assaulted, called the n-word, “cotton picker,” and “monkey,” and was told she does not belong, according to the lawsuit. To avoid the harassers, she hid in hallways until the instigating students reported to class. As a result, she has repeatedly been written up for being tardy to class.

    When the students’ parents complained, they often didn’t hear back from administrators, the lawsuit states. A father of one of the students said he asked a principal why she did not alert him to racial harassment targeting his child. The principal responded that she didn’t want to bring negative attention to the behavior or label the white student as a racist.

    At Navigator Upper Elementary School, a Black child was called various derogatory names, and each time the teachers failed to do anything about it. At one point, the student was so distraught that his teacher failed to take action that he asked his parents to pick him up from school.

    “Teachers are present when slurs are used against African

    American students, administrators are informed of racist behaviors, including physical assaults, and parents routinely escalate racist incidents to principals and the superintendent,” the lawsuit states. “Yet, Defendant has failed to take meaningful action.”

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    Steve Neavling

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  • Racial discrimination lawsuit filed against Shinola Hotel

    Racial discrimination lawsuit filed against Shinola Hotel

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    A Black Detroiter has sued the city’s Shinola Hotel for racial discrimination, alleging the luxury hotel responded to his resume only after he reapplied with a white-sounding name.

    The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by Marko Law, PLLC.

    According to the suit, Dwight Jackson, 27, has “extensive work experience in hotel hospitality” and applied to the boutique hotel multiple times between January and April 2024 without ever getting an interview.

    Jackson then reapplied with the same resume, only he changed his name to “John Jebrowski.” Suddenly he got a callback within a week, according to the lawsuit.

    After finally securing an interview for the position, Jackson said he was told he was no longer being considered.

    “What’s in a name? Apparently, a lot if you want employment at the Shinola Hotel,” attorney Jon Marko said in a press release. “Studies show that applicants with black-sounding names are less likely to receive an interview when employers are presented with identical resumes. Mr. Jackson’s situation is case on point.”

    The lawsuit alleges that the incident is a violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

    Asked for comment, the Shinola Hotel’s operating partner Sage Hospitality responded.

    “We take this allegation very seriously and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” the organization said. “We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and are dedicated to building a diverse workforce that reflects the community.”

    The lawsuit can be found below.

    Update: A statement issued on behalf of the Shinola Hotel was added to this article.

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    Lee DeVito

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