Jibau Harvey has brought suit in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, against PartsSource, Inc. of Aurora, Ohio, and several employees. Harvey's complaint alleges claims including employment discrimination, breach of implied contract, wrongful termination, hostile work environment and defamation. PartsSource, Inc. is an imaging and biomed parts supplier of hospital equipment.

According to the federal complaint, plaintiff Harvey was employed by PartsSource from 2004 through 2009 and was one of the company's sales team leaders. Harvey is African American, and claims in the complaint that Caucasian employees similarly situated to himself were treated preferentially, including another sales team leader who the complaint claims was allowed to violate company policy and rules. Harvey alleges that he was demoted, removed as team leader, and subject to racial slurs.

The complaint further alleges Harvey was terminated for what he says were false reasons, claiming one of the PartsSource employees stated in the presence of other persons that Harvey was fired for several write-ups and/or reprimands. Harvey states in the complaint there were no such write-ups. Harvey alleges that both he and the Caucasian sales team leader were accused of trying to solicit outside business, but the other employee was allowed an opportunity to defend himself and kept his job even after several alleged reprimands. However, the complaint states, Harvey was not allowed to defend himself or retain his job, despite having no reprimands or proof of wrongdoing. Harvey is asking for $500,000 in damages.

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