Nine Former Workers Sue Auburn University, Allege Discrimination: Nine workers in the Auburn University athletic department who were laid off or reassigned filed a federal lawsuit Thursday accusing the school of racial discrimination.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court. Seven of the former custodial workers were laid off last May. Two others were moved to another department during a reorganization after Auburn moved from Beard-Eaves Coliseum to the smaller, new Auburn Arena, the lawsuit said.
Ten of the 11 employees who lost their jobs in the athletic department were Black, according to the lawsuit, which said that only one Black employee who wasn’t a coach moved to the new building.
University spokesman Mike Clardy says university attorneys cannot comment because they have not seen the lawsuit.
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, court costs and restoration of their jobs with back pay and benefits.
