Former Employee Sues City Of Delray Beach For Discrimination

Lawsuit Claims Denis Placide Was Discriminated Against Due To Being A “Black Haitian Male”

Former Employee Sues City Of Delray Beach For Discrimination

DELRAY BEACH, FL (Boca Post) — A new lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County alleges that the City of Delray Beach has discriminated against the plaintiff, a project manager who was hired by the city in 2019.

According to the lawsuit, Denis Placide, a Project Manager who was hired by the City of Delray Beach to work in the Public Works Department, has been discriminated against by the department’s leadership. Placide claims specifically that Cynthia Buisson, Public Works Assistant Director, and Missy Barletto, Public Works Director, treat him differently based on the fact that he is a “Black Haitian Male”.

Placide alleges that he was the only Haitian employee in his department and was the only employee given a written write-up during the relevant time period for a project he had appropriately handled.

Placide alleges has also been given the cold shoulder and ignored at work at times by his supervisors, Mrs. Buisso and Mrs. Barletto.

According to the lawsuit, when Placide complained to Defendant’s Human Resources department of the discriminatory treatment as a result of his Race, Color, and National Origin, the discriminatory treatment only worsened.

Placide also alleges that he was passed up for promotions and hirings into higher positions as a result of his Race, Color, and National Origin, specifically after being told that he interviewed spectacularly.

Ultimately, Placide’s employment with the city was terminated on December 21, 2021. Placide alleges that he was terminated in retaliation for Plaintiff’s HR complaints of Mrs. Buisson, and Mrs. Barletto, and as a result of Plaintiff’s opposition to Defendant’s discriminatory and retaliatory treatment perpetrated against the Plaintiff and other employees.

Placide’s lawyers say that the allegations contained in the lawsuit are in direct violation of the FCRA (Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, Florida Statutes, Chapter 760) and for that, they are seeking monetary damages as well the reinstatement of Placide’s employment.