The chief administrative officer for Port Allen has sued the city, alleging pay discrimination.
Lance Joseph, who is Black, argues the city showed favoritism to other employees on the basis of race, color and sex, resulting in his pain and suffering, deprivation of rights as a member of a protected group and lost wages.
Neither the city nor Joseph’s attorney immediately responded to requests for comment.
In January 2023, the complaint says, Port Allen hired Katrina Davis, a Black female employee, at a higher starting salary than Joseph despite her position holding the same rank. Joseph alleges he received the lowest starting salary indicated for his position.
In April of that year, the city promoted Aaron Landry, a White man, from Water & Gas Supervisor to Superintendent of Public Works, a position that reports to Joseph, and for which Joseph says he had performed many of the duties during its vacancy. Landry became the city’s highest-paid employee at $93,440, the suit states, despite the fact that Joseph did not receive additional compensation while he was responsible for supervising the Department of Public Works.
These employment practices constituted discrimination in favor of a White employee and a female employee, the lawsuit argues, and violated both the Civil Rights Act and the equal pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Joseph has requested $500,000 in damages from the city for “irreparable harm” brought by the city's conduct.
Port Allen has yet to file a response in court.