TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University, a historically black university, allegedly discriminated against one of its white former employees.
Plaintiff Gerred B. Pogge filed his lawsuit last month in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division.
Pogge, who is white, alleges FAMU and Victor Delaire Jr., who was employed by FAMU as director of environmental health and safety and served as his direct supervisor, violated the federal Civil Rights Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Florida Civil Rights Act.
Delaire is Black and of Caribbean national origin, according to the 35-page complaint.
FAMU, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, is the third-largest historically Black university in the U.S. and the only public historically Black university in Florida.
Pogge contends he was wrongly terminated August 19 when FAMU issued him a Notice of Non-Reappointment. His employment with the university ended effective October 18.
“The Notice of Non-Reappointment states no reason of any kind for the termination of Plaintiff's employment,” his lawsuit states. “It identifies no performance deficiency, no misconduct, no reorganization, no budgetary justification, and no business reason whatsoever.”
He contends the university dismissed him due to his race discrimination complaints, complaints of a hostile work environment, his reporting of the university’s fire and environmental safety failures, and his reporting of financial irregularities concerning building code funds, among other things.
“Any reason FAMU may hereafter articulate is a post hoc construction advanced for purposes of this litigation and is entitled to no weight,” Pogge’s suit states.
Pogge was employed by FAMU from March 2019 until his separation.
He was hired as an industrial hygienist in March 2019, was promoted to assistant director of environmental health and safety and building code administrator in March 2020, and served as interim director of environmental health and safety from March 2021 until August 2022, when FAMU hired Delaire into the director position.
Delaire, Pogge contends, was not qualified for the role – a position he also applied for but was not awarded.
“Plaintiff possessed the required Master's degree, far exceeded the required six years of university environmental health and safety experience, and had been performing the duties of the position on an interim basis for approximately seventeen months,” the suit states.
“At the time of his selection, Delaire did not possess a Master's degree. Delaire's curriculum vitae represented that he would receive an ‘MBA w/ Concentration in Safety’ from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the class of 2023 – that is, a degree he had not yet earned.”
Delaire also did not possess six years of experience in a university health and safety program, and Delaire acknowledged he had no prior supervisory experience and had never supervised any employees, the filing states.
Pogge complained to the university’s Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, or EOP, but was told he was not a member of a protected class.
Beginning in 2023, Pogge also repeatedly reported to FAMU that it was failing to pay invoices owed to its fire safety vendors. The failure, he alleges, was preventing him and his staff from correcting fire code violations identified by the Florida State Fire Marshal.
As a result, in November 2023, Pogge alleges Delaire issued him a written reprimand.
The next year, Pogge contends Delaire subjected him to a “pattern of harassing meetings” and would “nitpick and micromanage” him and accuse him of failing to follow directions.
In November 2024, Pogge began experiencing heart problems. He scheduled testing and requested leave, which he claims Delaire approved.
However, Delaire at one point contested that he approved it and threatened to issue a reprimand – until Pogge forwarded him his own written approval, the suit states.
Then, in August 2025, Pogge contends Delaire attempted to discipline him for having to come to work on the weekend – albeit at Delaire’s direction.
According to the filing, Delaire also cited Pogge in his 2025 annual evaluation for “personal differences.”
“Delaire had written no narrative whatsoever – no comments, no examples of performance deficiencies, and no goals or objectives,” the suit notes.
Pogge argues that Delaire’s treatment caused him to suffer a panic attack and “severe elevation” of his blood pressure.
He seeks back pay, lost benefits, front pay or reinstatement, compensatory damages, punitive damages against Delaire individually, and declaratory or injunctive relief. He also seeks attorneys’ fees and pre- and post-judgment interest.
The Meeks Law Firm PLLC in Tallahassee is representing Pogge in the action.
