In a striking case of alleged workplace discrimination, a former employee has filed a lawsuit against a major hospital association for racial discrimination and retaliation. Nicole M. Pierre, the plaintiff, lodged her complaint on December 9, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana against the Southwest Louisiana Hospital Association, which operates as Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.
Nicole M. Pierre’s allegations are rooted in her experiences during her employment with the hospital starting September 7, 2023. As an African-American phlebotomist and pro re nata nurse (PRN), she claims to have faced discriminatory treatment compared to her Caucasian colleagues. The complaint highlights an incident on November 15, 2023, when Pierre and another African-American nurse were disciplined for “excessive cell phone use” while their Caucasian counterparts engaged in similar behavior without repercussions. Despite presenting photographic evidence of this unequal treatment to Assistant Lab Director Maegen Duffy and Human Resources, no action was taken to retract the write-ups against Pierre and her colleague.
Pierre’s formal complaints to Human Resources about racial discrimination were met with further retaliation. On December 1, 2023, less than two weeks after filing a written complaint alleging racial bias and threatening an EEOC claim if targeted due to her race, she was terminated under questionable circumstances. Initially told she was fired for two no-call no-shows—an accusation she refuted with evidence—the reason later shifted to policy violations related to work hours.
The lawsuit asserts that these actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 by subjecting Pierre to adverse employment actions based on race and retaliating against her for opposing such practices. It accuses the hospital of willful discrimination carried out with malice or reckless indifference towards Pierre’s protected rights.
Pierre seeks comprehensive relief from the court including back pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress and mental anguish, punitive damages for malicious conduct by the defendant, attorney’s fees, costs incurred from litigation including expert fees, pre-judgment interest at legal rates as well as post-judgment interest until paid in full. She also requests injunctive relief aimed at preventing future occurrences of such discriminatory practices within the organization.
Representing Nicole M. Pierre are attorneys James E. Sudduth III and Kourtney L. Kech from Sudduth & Associates LLC based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The case is presided over by judges at the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana under Case ID: 2:25-cv-01972.
Source: 225cv01972_Nicole_Pierre_v_Southwest_Louisiana_Complaint_Western_District_of_Louisiana.pdf
