A seasoned automotive sales professional has filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and wrongful termination. Dutch Wells III initiated the complaint on November 25, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against Patterson Motors of Shreveport, Inc., doing business as Orr Nissan South.
Dutch Wells III, an African American male with extensive experience in automotive sales, claims that despite his exemplary performance and promises of career advancement from his employer, he faced racial discrimination leading to his dismissal. Wells began working at Patterson Motors in 2013 and quickly became a top performer in the Ark-La-Tex region. In December 2020, when another dealership sought to recruit him into a management role, executives Stephen Bell and Chuck Sedrick persuaded him to stay by promising promotions into upper-level management. However, these promises were not fulfilled.
In 2022, Kyle Broughton was hired as General Manager. Despite Wells’s qualifications, he was overlooked for this position. Under Broughton’s leadership, white males were predominantly hired for management roles. Wells alleges that he was excluded from meetings and training opportunities necessary for career advancement—opportunities that were instead given to newly hired white managers. This exclusion continued until November 27, 2024, when Wells’s employment was abruptly terminated without explanation.
Upon termination, Wells received a severance check dated two days before his dismissal but refused it as it required him to waive rights to additional owed wages and benefits under Louisiana law. Following his dismissal, his position was filled by a white male.
Wells is pursuing claims under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1981) and state law (La. R.S. 23:332), asserting that he was discriminated against based on race and denied equal pay compared to less experienced white colleagues. He seeks judgment for unpaid wages including bonuses and vacation pay due at termination per La. RS. 23:631 and RS. 23:632 statutes.
The plaintiff demands back pay, front pay in lieu of reinstatement, compensatory damages for racial discrimination violations under both federal and state laws, punitive damages under federal law (42 U.S.C §1982), pre-judgment interest on awarded amounts under Louisiana law, costs associated with the suit including attorney fees.
Representing Dutch Wells III is Pamela R. Jones from Downer, Jones, Marino & Wilhite L.L.C., while the case is presided over by an unnamed judge with Case ID: 5:25-cv-01877.
Source: 525cv01877_Dutch_Wells_v_Patterson_Motors_Complaint_Western_District_of_Louisiana.pdf
