In a decisive legal victory for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), a federal judge in Georgia has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a white commissary worker, Jamie Kennedy. Kennedy alleged she faced unjust punishment after being falsely accused of using a racial slur by a Black colleague, Ellistina Redman. However, Judge R. Stan Baker ruled in favor of the DOD, stating Kennedy failed to demonstrate discriminatory treatment.
DOD defeated white commissary workers lawsuit : Lack of Comparable Treatment
Kennedy’s lawsuit, filed under Title VII, claimed she endured threats of suspension following accusations of racial misconduct, while her complaints of harassment against Redman were allegedly ignored by supervisors. Yet, Judge Baker emphasized the absence of evidence showcasing similar treatment of a comparable co-worker who was treated more favorably.
Kennedy alleged a pattern of harassment by Redman, including verbal abuse, physical intimidation, and criticism of her work performance. Despite Kennedy’s denial of using a racial slur, Redman reported the incident, leading to Kennedy’s reassignment to a different shift and a proposed suspension.
Absence of Substantiated Claims
While Kennedy argued that her actions, including recording the confrontation with Redman, were responses to the DOD’s failure to address her complaints adequately, Judge Baker found her explanations lacking. Kennedy’s assertion that the enforcement of policies was biased against her failed to convince the court, which upheld the DOD’s decision.
