James Bland complained three times about his coworker's Confederate flag decorations before he was terminated last year, a lawsuit filed this week against Williamsburg Honda claims.
Bland, who is Black, is suing the owner of the dealership claiming he was discriminated against because he told his supervisor the flag is a symbol of hatred and made him uncomfortable.
Bland worked as a service technician at the dealership. One of his coworkers had three stickers on a toolbox at his work station that Bland saw most of the day: A Confederate flag, a Confederate flag decal and a photo of Robert E. Lee in a Confederate soldier uniform.
"The Confederate display in the workplace was severe and/or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile and/or abusive," the lawsuit reads.
According to the lawsuit, at least one other employee told Bland he agreed with him and found the decorations "appalling."
Bland's lawsuit says his termination, 12 days after his last complaint about the flag displays, shows "his silently enduring the offensive conduct was a condition of continued employment."
Bland's attorney wrote in the complaint that this is considered discrimination because complaining about harassment or hostile behavior stemming from race and should not result in termination.
Jon Clark, Bland's direct supervisor, fired him on July 10, 2019, saying "things aren't working out," according to the legal complaint. Bland received a bonus two months before that.
The lawsuit alleges Clark didn't respond to Bland's complaints and it is repeatedly mentioned in the lawsuit, but the suit is against the entire dealership and its owner, local business owner John Dodson.
Bland requested a jury trial. According to court records, a court date regarding the case hasn't been set yet.
Dodson did not immediately return a request for comment on the lawsuit.
