NEW ORLEANS – A former Delgado Community College employee has sued the board that supervises and manages the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, alleging retaliation and discrimination.
Plaintiff Matthew Williams filed his lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
“Plaintiff alleges Defendant' actions were taken after and because of Plaintiff's complaints regarding suspected financial misconduct, his request for FMLA leave, and his disability-related medical condition,” the 25-page complaint states.
Williams alleges the defendant violated the federal Civil Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act.
At the time he was hired as an IT recruitment manager within Delgado’s Workforce Development, in August 2022, Williams was told he would receive an annual salary of $65,000.
He also was promised an additional $50,000 from grant funding allocated to his position, to be distributed over a two-year period at $25,000 per year.
He claims he was told the grant funding was intended to support his position and responsibilities associated with Workforce Development programs.
During the first two years of his employment, he performed his duties and had no significant disciplinary issues or employment concerns, Williams noted in his complaint.
Later, in 2024, he became concerned about inaccurate information regarding the distribution of funds.
Williams claims his supervisor, Kelvin Gipson, submitted reports and financial information that Williams believed “inaccurately represented program accomplishments, performance metrics, expenditures, and financial data.”
“Plaintiff discovered reports reflecting courses, programs, and activities that he reasonably believed had been represented as completed or successfully conducted when, based upon his personal knowledge, those programs had either not occurred as reported or the reported results materially overstated what had actually taken place,” the complaint states.
He claims he also discovered financial reporting concerns, including sponsor account balances being reported as zero in circumstances where he believed the information did not accurately reflect actual expenditures.
Williams claims he promptly reported his concerns regarding the suspected financial irregularities and inaccurate reporting to individuals involved with the grant, “believing he had an obligation to ensure the accuracy of information submitted to grantors and funding agencies.”
He alleges he also reported his concerns internally to Delgado administration, including Assistant Vice Chancellor Dr. Traci Smothers.
After reporting his concerns, Williams contends he began experiencing “increased workplace hostility, pressure, and adverse treatment.”
The ongoing retaliation and increasingly hostile work environment eventually forced Williams to seek medical leave, he claims.
On June 9, 2024, while at home, he began experiencing neurological symptoms – including left-side facial drooping and weakness in his left arm and leg. His wife transported him to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with suffering a stroke.
He remained in the hospital’s intensive care unit for another week or two. Despite being aware of his condition and hospitalization, his co-workers continued contacting him about work-related issues, the filing alleges.
“Plaintiff's wife specifically informed Delgado that Plaintiff was hospitalized in the ICU and medically incapable of handling employment matters,” the complaint states. “Nevertheless, Defendant continued making work-related demands.”
While on protected medical leave, Williams claims Delgado elected not to renew his employment contract, resulting in his termination effective Dec. 31, 2024.
Following his termination, Williams found employment with another community college. But he alleges Delgado employees made false statements about his integrity and professionalism.
“Plaintiff alleges these statements harmed his reputation and future employment opportunities,” his filing states.
Williams seeks back pay, front pay, liquidated damages, punitive damages, general and special damages for lost compensation and job benefits he would have received, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and compensatory and punitive damages.
The Minias Law Firm in New Orleans is representing him in the lawsuit.
