Imagine going to work and getting called derogatory names, harassed and threatened on the job.
It’s what one man who works in manual labor in Southwest Virginia alleges in his lawsuit, which is seeking $5,000,000 in damages.
“Everybody got families to take care of. I hate that this situation is happening for everybody involved,” he said.
Adrian Mitchell was a plumbing apprentice in August of 2021 for Southern Air, a company based out of Lynchburg.
His goal for taking the apprenticeship is to create a better life for himself.
“I moved from North Carolina to Lynchburg for the sole purpose of the job,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell claims the dream job became a nightmare.
In a lawsuit filed, Mitchell claims he was harassed.
He claims his supervisors, who are white, used derogatory terms, like porch monkey, in September 2021.
In a sworn statement 10 news obtained, Mitchell claims derogatory names his supervisors used include yard apes and the n-word, and Mitchell claims he reported it to human resources, which led to him being transferred.
Mitchell also alleges in his complaint around September 30, 2021, he was attempting to fit a pipe at a worksite.
Mithcell claims the Site Supervisor critiqued him, called him an “imbecile” and threatened to “hunt down and shoot him in the head.”
“Because he could find out where I live, they knew I wasn’t from the area and they could hunt me down,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell alleges he was transferred again to another job site 45 minutes away after informing human resources.
Southern Air’s response to the complaint claims that it was closer to Mitchell’s home and hire point.
Mitchell alleges the harassment stopped until a site supervisor was injured in mid-October of 2021.
It’s alleged he was transferred back to the original site supervisor who used racial slurs.
“They told me to go report to him, and if I didn’t, they would take it as a no-call, no-show. I know the work environment they trying to put me in was uncomfortable. I knew I didn’t feel safe for my life,” Mitchell said.
In his lawsuit, Mitchell alleges that he did not return to work on Nov. 6 due to the intolerable working conditions and was discharged by Southern Air.
Southern Air denies allegations about a no-call, no-show.
Court documents allege Southern Air offered Mitchell the opportunity to work on a new project and claims that if Mitchell did not return to work, Southern Air would have no alternative but to consider him resigned based on the abandonment of the position.
“It is so disturbing.”
Mitchell hired attorney Tommie Strelka who is suing Southern Air on his behalf.
In his lawsuit, Mitchell alleges that Southern Air unfairly illegally terminated Mitchell and created a hostile work environment.
“The way in which Mr. Mitchell was treated, you might think this was 1822.”
Southern Air filed an answer to Mitchell’s complaint, denying all allegations of misconduct and wrongdoing.
One statement from Southern Air’s answer that caught Strelka’s eye: their claim that Mitchell did not convey any of the alleged statements or threats to inflict bodily harm to company staff.
“We have numerous text messages from Mr. Mitchell that he was smart enough to retain,” Strelka said.
Mitchell swore the following text messages exchanged with Southern Air management are authentic and Southern Air produced a copy of the message during the litigation.
Mitchell said to Southern Air Management in separate messages, “I did. .once Tim got out [of] the vehicle, he proceeded to insult me and say I was a snitch and that I’d [if] anything happened to his job, he would kill my ass .. followed by do you hear me, boy..”
Southern Air management replied: From my understanding, today is the first day threats against your life were brought up.
Mitchell responded: I told Steve the day of it happening via telephone call; he called me back.
10 News reached out to Southern Air’s attorneys.
They declined our interview request; however, they sent a statement saying, “Southern Air has responded to the Complaint by denying the allegations Mr. Mtichell has advanced and looks forward to vindicating its position when afforded its day in Court.”
You can find Southern Air’s full response to the complaint here, as well as the original complaint here. You can also see the press release from Mitchell’s legal representation. Southern Air denies any wrongdoing.
Southern Air’s official statement can be found below.
Official statement from Southern Air by Jazmine Otey on Scribd