In a legal battle highlighting potential workplace discrimination, a former director has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer for racial and national origin discrimination. On October 16, 2024, Israel Oluwatobi filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Bridge Security Services Inc., alleging discriminatory practices following his termination.
The case details a troubling narrative of alleged bias within Bridge Security Services Inc., where Oluwatobi, who had dedicated over 26 years to the company, was terminated shortly after the appointment of a new CEO, Rich Pepe. The complaint outlines that Oluwatobi's dismissal was not due to any performance-related issues but was rooted in racial and national origin discrimination. According to the lawsuit, Pepe made derogatory remarks about Nigerians and Black employees, describing them as "stupid" and "a bunch of idiots." These statements were allegedly made while he systematically replaced Black employees with white Hispanic individuals.
Oluwatobi's legal action seeks various forms of relief from the court. He is asking for declaratory and injunctive relief to address the discriminatory actions he faced under U.S. Constitution provisions, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC 2000e), New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), and New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). Additionally, he is pursuing compensatory damages amounting to $2 million or an amount determined at trial, along with litigation costs and attorney fees.
The complaint provides a detailed account of Oluwatobi's career trajectory within Bridge Security Services Inc., highlighting his rise from security guard in 1995 to director of operations by 2009. It describes how his responsibilities were gradually reassigned to Francisco Perez and Christina Farjador after Pepe took over as CEO in February 2021. This transition allegedly culminated in Oluwatobi's demotion and eventual termination on August 8, 2021.
Throughout his tenure, Oluwatobi claims he had no prior issues with job performance or discrimination until Pepe’s arrival. The complaint further accuses Pepe of creating a hostile work environment by making racially charged comments and retaliating against Oluwatobi for questioning these discriminatory practices.
Represented by attorney Albert Van-Lare from The Law Offices of Albert Van-Lare, this case highlights significant allegations against Bridge Security Services Inc., aiming to hold them accountable for what Oluwatobi describes as blatant violations of civil rights laws designed to protect individuals from workplace discrimination based on race and national origin. Case ID: 1:24-cv-07277.