Macon bartender accuses managers at local hotel of racism, seeks six-figure sum in lawsuit
An employee at the Marriott Hotel in Macon has sued the owners of the hotel for $300,000 or more after she says she repeatedly faced racial discrimination.
Rodricka Foreman filed the lawsuit with her attorney, Roland Mumford, on Wednesday alleging her supervisors, Kathy Martin, Eve Wise and Michael Galloway, subjected her to disparaging treatment, a hostile work environment and retaliation. She says behaviors from her bosses violated the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Foreman alleged one of her bosses had racially insensitive tattoos, that one boss used racial slurs, and that she was repeatedly called other names.
Foreman filed the suit against Linchris Hotel Corporation and LCP Macon EMP, which own the Marriott Hotel at 240 Coliseum Drive.
A lawsuit only represents one side of an argument, and neither organization has filed a legal reply to the suit yet. Linchris did provide comment about the lawsuit Thursday.
Monet Viens, the human resources manager for Linchris, said that even though they are unable to comment on the specifics of employee matters, “we are committed to fostering a workplace environment that is inclusive, respectful and free from discrimination of any kind.”
Viens also indicated they have policies against harassment and discrimination and “are dedicated to ensuring that all employees are treated with dignity and respect.”
“We will continue to work diligently to maintain a positive and supportive work environment for all of our employees,” Viens said.
Allegations of racial slurs, discriminatory firings
Foreman began working for the hotel’s restaurant as a bartender toward the end of April 2022, the lawsuit says. Foreman alleges the previous restaurant manager she worked under resigned after complaining to hotel management about “racially-charged conduct” from Martin, who was a hotel manager, according to the complaint.
The suit says that, on one occasion, Martin called a Black hotel guest a racial slur, which was captured on video. It also showed Martin and the guest arguing. She also terminated Black employees “because their skin was too dark,” the lawsuit said. Martin would also mention to employees that she wanted to “lighten up the hotel,” and that she would encourage former managers to fire Black employees incrementally, the lawsuit alleges.
But most of Foreman’s experiences in the hotel were under Eve Wise and Michael Galloway, as both oversaw the restaurant, according to the lawsuit. Wise and Galloway were believed to be married — Wise would refer to Galloway as her husband to employees of the restaurant, the lawsuit said.
Employees observed Galloway sporting a tattoo of a swastika on his back, tattoos of other Ku Klux Klan symbols and other similar symbols on his body, according to the lawsuit. He would often wear tank tops to the restaurant, which allowed the tattoos to be visible to Black employees and possibly hotel guests, the lawsuit alleged.
The lawsuit also alleges that Galloway would attend meetings for the KKK and other hate groups, though the lawsuit didn’t provide further information on the claim.
Galloway also would tell Foreman that she was “lazy” and call her expletives, according to the lawsuit. Galloway also was accused of serving Foreman raw or undercooked food, often with white foreign substances and pig hair.
Although hotel policy claimed that managers are not permitted to receive tips and were ordered to transfer tips they receive to employees who work for tips, Wise would not give tips to Foreman. The lawsuit claims she never received tips from Wise.
Although employees were able to eat the leftovers from a catering event, on one occasion, Wise didn’t let Foreman have the leftovers because he said they would be used for another event. However, when Foreman asked another manager whether she could have the food, he told Foreman that what Wise said was not true. Wise and Galloway said the leftover food would go to their animals on their farm, and white employees were allowed to have some of the food, but not Black employees, the lawsuit alleged.
And, on one occasion, Foreman’s hours were substantially reduced in December of last year, which the lawsuit alleges Galloway, Wise and Martin were responsible for. She was told that her hours were reduced due to negative performance and complaints, but the front office manager, Susan Little, who deals with complaints, said there were no complaints about Foreman.
Foreman also was denied management opportunities by Martin, according to the lawsuit.
“Defendant(s) undertook all of the above-pled unlawful conduct intentionally, willfully, and maliciously with respect to Plaintiff’s federally protected rights,” the lawsuit states. “Additionally and in the alternative, Defendant(s) undertook all of the above-pled conduct with reckless disregard for Plaintiff’s federally protected rights.”
Foreman is asking to be paid back for economic damages, including the salary, back pay, front pay and benefits she lost due to the discriminatory conduct “in an amount not less than $300,000 or to be determined.” She also asked for compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney’s fees and to be heard by a jury.
This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
