Former Partner Sues Coast Law Firm for Discrimination and Retaliation
On December 27, 2010 attorney Sherrie Moore sued the Allen, Cobb, Hood & Atkinson law firm of Gulfport in federal court for sexual discrimination and retaliation. The law firm has been around for many years under various names. Here is the Complaint.
Moore alleges that in 2003 she joined the firm as an equity partner. She alleges that the firm had an unwritten policy against hiring African-Americans. Moore further alleges that in April 2010, an associate with the firm brought two white secretaries at the firm into his office and warned them that people like them would likely be targeted for violence at the upcoming Black Spring Break event on the Coast.
Moore alleges that she then confronted the associate about the inappropriate behavior. She alleges that the associate complained to the other partners, who met and decided to fire Moore. She alleges that she was terminated despite earning the largest bonus in the firm in 2009.
Moore's attorneys are John Maxey and Heather Aby of the Maxey Wann firm in Jackson.
Here is Allen Cobb's Answer, in which the firm denies Moore's allegations. The firm's attorneys are Taylor Smith and Michael Hudson from the Kullman Firm in Tupelo.
My take:
Wow. The allegations sound like scenes from the movie Blazing Saddles.
Cases against lawyers and law firms are knife fights. Cases between lawyers are worse. Just ask the losers of Scruggs-gate.
I assume the complaint alleges sexual discrimination somewhere, because there isn't any described in the blog post ....
The retaliation claim may be more promising. The Supreme Court just held 9-0 that a company can be liable to a fiance for firing him in retaliation for his fiancee's complaint of Title VII discrimination (both worked at the company). Does that give Moore a basis for claiming she was retaliated against for opposing racial discrimination at the firm?
The Answer also denies that Stephen Dummer is male. Hm. Might want to amend that, y'all.
... Any lawyer who numbers his answer's paragraphs in Roman numerals is actively trying to annoy the judge, btw.
The Complaint reads like it's headed to a racial discrimination claim, but then pleads sexual discrimination and retaliation. I guess Moore is white.
The case reminds me of an aspect of alienation of affection lawsuits. Once the complaint has been filed, the biggest leverage point that the plaintiff has is lost: the desire to keep the allegations out of the public record.
**The Complaint reads like it's headed to a racial discrimination claim, but then pleads sexual discrimination and retaliation. I guess Moore is white. **
I found that a bit odd as well. If this is a sexual discrimination suit, why all the allegations about race?
And for the record, if what happened to the young white girl at the Edgewater Mall at the hands of recent black spring breakers is any guide, it probably wasn't a bad idea to warn young ladies away from this event.
"The Answer also denies that Stephen Drummer is male."
LOL. Haven't actually looked at the Answer, are they asserting that as an Affirmative Defense?
Nah, Moore alleges she was replaced w/ a male, and the firm denies everything in the paragraph except X, Y, and Z, neglecting to include "oh, and we admit he's a guy." Smothered in a blanket denial, as it were.
I know all these people including Ms Moore. This lawsuit has no substance whatsoever and I am surprised that it would even be filed.
Tim, any hint as to why the apparently successful Ms. Moore was fired, then? Personality issues? Professional jealousy? Rumored to have a black great-great-grandmother?
I hate to comment on a blog, but I've been on the "opposite" side from these guys/ladies for 30+ years and know them well. Never got the slightest hint of such conduct from the female or male attorneys, including Ms Moore. I have my opinions why she was terminated but will keep to myself for moment.
And by the way I told my daughter and son, not to go to Biloxi during Black Spring Break. Nothing to do with Black or White had to do with traffic, police, and out of control college students drinking, etc. etc. and a lot of other things going on the beach. If it had been White Spring Break and such goings on I would say the same thing.