A Black longtime former Disneyland employee is suing the company, alleging he was subjected to discrimination, harassment and retaliation and then wrongfully fired earlier this year after being falsely accused of bringing a gun to work.
Douglas Keith Harris’ lawsuit alleges discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on race, veteran status, age and disability, as well as wrongful termination and defamation. Maintaining he was treated like a criminal and suffered extreme emotional distress, he is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
A Disney representative could not immediately be reached for comment on the suit that was filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Harris’ lawyer, Carney R. Shegerian, alleges his client “was a loyal and dedicated employee for 32 years until he lost his career over one unfounded accusation.”
“Disney’s actions exhibit a work environment that condones the very same stereotyping and bias that ruins the lives of many Americans and there is no excuse for such misconduct,” the attorney alleged.
Harris, now 63, was hired in October 1987 as a Disneyland ride operator and was promoted about seven times, eventually becoming a dispatcher in the maintenance base, the suit says. He typed for up to 10 hours a day and dispatched maintenance people if any attractions were down, according to his court papers.
He alleges that two of his supervisors inappropriately mocked him for being deaf in one ear, despite knowing that he suffered a hearing loss while serving in the military, and often told him, “You should retire.” He also claims that his supervisors abused their power over him by changing his schedule to the graveyard shift upon his return from a surgery.
In January, Harris was accused of bringing a firearm into work and brandishing it at another employee, but police searched his car and belongings and did not find any weapons, according to the complaint.
Ignoring Harris’ pleas that he did not bring a gun to work and does not have one, Disney suspended him, his suit alleges.
On Feb. 7, a supervisor met Harris outside of the main gate and told him he was being fired for being “unprofessional in the workplace,” the suit states.
Harris was stripped of his retirement plan and was told that he could no longer use his pass to get into the theme park, the suit states.