The town of Wrightsville Beach is being sued by former town employee Francois L. Baldwin. Baldwin worked in the town’s public works department as a utilities maintenance mechanic for approximately two years. He was discharged for unsatisfactory job performance. His letter of termination, signed by assistant public works director Steve Dellies, is dated Dec. 19, 2012.
Baldwin is represented in the U.S. District Court case by attorney Katherine Lewis Parker. The town is represented by Norwood Blanchard of the League of Municipalities.
The complaint, filed Feb. 19, alleges Baldwin was subjected to repeated racial slurs by a supervisor and by co-workers. Examples cited include the use of the “N” word and “Get your black a- – out of my chair.” Co-workers are accused of making derogatory references to “watermelons” and “nappy hair.”
Because Baldwin is African American, the complaint alleges criminal activity under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, although the exact nature of Baldwin’s disability has not been disclosed.
Reports to supervisors went unanswered, the harassment intensified and was demonstrated in front of Dellies, Baldwin alleges. A month before Baldwin was fired, Dellies held a meeting of the water and sewer department and ordered workers to stop making racial comments/jokes. The November 12 memo was attached to the complaint.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $25,000 and a jury trial.
Town manager Tim Owens said during a March 3 phone interview, “I have been advised by the attorney for the league that I cannot comment.”
