Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against Southampton Town Parks Officials to go to Trial

The lawsuit filed by a Southampton Town Parks Department employee against his supervisors and town officials for alleged racial discrimination and abuse will be going to trial, according to a press release from The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington.

The employee, David Coles, who is represented by Brewington, claims that he was “unlawfully subjected” to a hostile work environment by his supervisor, Andrew Kuroski, the Town’s Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Jonathan Erwin and that the pattern of discrimination and behavior began when Erwin took on his new position.

Coles, was employed by the Town as a Groundskeeper II since 2003 and has worked for the Town since 2001.

After working for the Town for some time and earning seniority, he became a Senior Crew Leader and had been assigned to use the newer and higher-end lawnmowers.

After having taken and returned from medical leave, he found that the newer equipment had been reassigned to another groundskeeper without any explanation, according to the press release.

This incident allegedly started a pattern of harassment which took place over the next several years, according to Coles.

In September 2011, he filed a formal complaint against the Town and Sandra Cirincione, an attorney in the Town’s Human Resources Department, met with Coles and other personnel, according to the release.

On October 20, 2011, Cirincione told Coles to expect a resolution within 30 days but he was not contacted by Cirincione until April 18, 2012 — six months later — when he received a record of resolution stating the matter had been resolved, according to the release.

Coles was asked to sign the record but refused and instead requested a formal hearing, but was not offered the opportunity for such a hearing until after he had retained counsel.

Since filing his grievance, he said his situation has not improved and he continues to experience racial discrimination in the workplace, according to the release.

U.S District Court Judge Joanna Seybert ruled that the matter will proceed to trial, on the grounds that Coles was subjected to a hostile work environment on March 31.

“We are pleased to learn that Mr. Coles’ lawsuit has been allowed to proceed,” Brewington said. “My client continues to experience racial discrimination and harassment by his supervisors and yet the Town has done nothing to remedy the situation. He has not been promoted and he has been relegated to more menial tasks. For someone with his experience and tenure, that is unacceptable.”

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