A former employee is taking legal action against a major industrial corporation, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. Dempster Wilson filed a complaint on February 19, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Zachry Industrial, Inc., claiming discriminatory practices and unfair disciplinary actions.
Dempster Wilson, who resides in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, accuses Zachry Industrial, Inc., a foreign business corporation operating in Louisiana, of engaging in racially discriminatory practices. The incident that sparked this lawsuit occurred on February 20, 2024. Wilson claims that while he was employed by Zachry Industrial and performing his duties satisfactorily, he sustained a work-related injury on October 23, 2023. Following this incident, he reported the injury to his employer. However, tensions escalated when on February 19, 2024, Wilson and about forty other crew members were informed that their shifts would be extended from ten to twelve hours.
Wilson alleges that non-African-American employees who refused to work beyond ten hours faced no disciplinary actions. In contrast, African-American employees like himself were threatened with further shift extensions and disciplinary measures if they declined additional hours. On February 20, only African-American employees were disciplined and suspended without pay for three days. This action was taken despite Wilson having no prior disciplinary history; he contends it was excessive and inconsistent with company policy.
The complaint details how Wilson disputed false accusations of leaving work early and subsequently reported these discriminatory practices through Zachry Industrial’s internal dispute resolution process on February 23, 2024. He also filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Despite these efforts, Wilson claims the company prematurely closed its investigation based solely on supervisor statements falsely accusing him of job abandonment.
Wilson’s lawsuit asserts that Zachry Industrial’s conduct constitutes race discrimination under Louisiana Revised Statutes §23:332 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additionally, he claims retaliation for protected activity under the same statutes and seeks to hold the company liable under 42 U.S.C. §1983 if proven at trial.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Wilson is asking for back pay and benefits lost due to his suspension as well as front pay or reinstatement into his position. He also seeks compensatory damages for emotional distress caused by this ordeal along with punitive damages due to what he describes as malicious actions by Zachry Industrial showing reckless indifference towards his federally protected civil rights.
Representing Dempster Wilson is attorney Gary J. Miller from Miller & Hilgendorf law firm located in Baton Rouge. The case has been assigned Case ID: 2:26-cv-00366 but no judge has been mentioned yet in available documents regarding this filing.
Source: 226cv00366_Dempster_Wilson_v_Zachary_Industrial_Complaint_Western_District_of_Louisiana.pdf
