For an Initial Consultation, call (917) 371-8000

Steven Mitchell
Sack

The Employee’s Lawyer®

Welcome to The Law Offices of Steven Mitchell Sack

Enforcing the workplace rights of thousands of employees, executives and sales reps for more than 44 years.

steven mitchell sack

Haitian Nurse Sues New York Hospital for Racial Discrimination

Diana St Gerard, 64, a nurse in the mental health unit at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, Long Island claims that she was mocked by colleagues who said her Haitian accent was “irritating.” More importantly, Ms. St Gerard alleges that she was fired after complaining that several white staffers discriminated against her, minority patients and their families. She went on to explain that a co-worker even mocked her with a voodoo doll because of her nationality.

According to the suit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, Ms. St Gerard said co-workers complained that the goat meat and Haitian food she brought to work was too spicy and left a foul odor the lunchroom, and that colleagues repeatedly asked her whether she practiced “black magic” or voodoo.

In addition, the lawsuit claims that a nurse told Ms. St. Gerard that she looked like a voodoo doll and wondered why she had light-colored skin since she came from a country of “dark-skinned people.”

Ms. St Gerard claimed in the lawsuit that the hospital’s management took no action, not even after a nurse brought to the mental health unit a black baby doll she had purchased at a flea market and began waving it around, saying the doll “looked just like St Gerard, the doll had the same evil eyes as her and the only difference was that she didn’t have a needle in the middle of her chest.”

The hospital has not yet commented publicly on the upcoming litigation and cited Ms. St Gerard’s anger issues and a purported failure to complete tasks as reason for her termination in June 2012.

Although the outcome of this case is unknown, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it clear that it is illegal for an employer to harass an employee or take adverse action against him or her because of the employee’s race, color, or ethnic background. Additionally, harassment can include any behavior that is racially charged such as offensive jokes, the use of ethnic slurs, and racially insensitive statements stereotyping groups of people.

If you or a loved one believe that you have been the victim of racial discrimination or employment discrimination of any kind, contact an experienced employment lawyer today. A skilled attorney will help ensure your legal rights are protected.

One thought on “Haitian Nurse Sues New York Hospital for Racial Discrimination”

  1. I thought employees couldn’t sue their boss and were limited to complaining to the EEOC, just like accident victims at work were limited by the workers compensation laws.

Comments are closed.

    If you have experienced any of the below, fill out the form to the right to set up your FREE PHONE CONSULTATION:























    What’s Happening at The Law Offices of Steven Mitchell Sack

    new york lawyer
    new york lawyer awards
    new york lawyer blog

    Our Reviews and Client Feedback

    After calling nearly every law office in Manhattan for 48 hours, I was incredibly fortunate to find attorney Steven Sack.
    His professionalism, integrity, and attention to detail are truly exceptional. From the very beginning, he took my case seriously, followed up promptly, and treated me with genuine respect and empathy.
    What stood out the most is that Steven doesn't sugarcoat anything , he tells you the truth, even when it's difficult to hear, because he cares about giving you the strongest and most honest legal guidance.
    I'm beyond grateful for his support and legal expertise.
    If you're looking for someone who will fight for you, keep you informed, and handle your case with the utmost care, Steven Sack is the one to call.
    Thank you Steven for all of your help. I am truly thankful.
    I dealt with steven as an adversary. I found him to be one of the most respectful,, knowledgeable, and effective attorneys i have encountered in my 40 years of practicing law.
    Steven isn't just a great lawyer, he is a great person. He was always available to take my calls, and to give good advice. I would highly recommend him.
    "I am an attorney, and I can say that Mr sack did an outstanding job in negotiating a severance agreement. He picked up the phone and made a call, something simple, timely and effective that no other attorney would do. Mr. Sack was effective, to the point, he always followed up, and he got me a better result than any other attorney would have.

    He exceeded expectations, and I am very grateful that I hired him.

    I would recommend him to any employee involved in a sensitive situation where diplomatic negotiation and communication is needed. He kept me very well informed about the progress of my case and obtained a very satisfactory negotiated formal written severance agreement, which is one of his specialties."
    Response from the owner:Thank you very much for your review. Please keep us in mind if you ever have any other employment law matters you need assistance with.
    The best contract lawyer out there. Responsive compassionate and got results results fast. Unbelievable contract lawyer best in NYC.
    Response from the owner:Thanks for your review. Please feel free to call back if you ever have any need of representation in any future employment law matters.
    js_loader

    Testimonials

    Read More

    Skip to content