Former Mets’ Human Resources Director sues Mets, Owner’s Son
and General Counsel for Sex and Race/Color Discrimination
Date: December 20, 2004
Directed by Owner’s Son and General Counsel to Clean the Pantry Area at Shea
Stadium
The former Director of Human Resources of the New York Mets filed suit in
federal court in New York this month against the New York Mets, the Chief
Operating Officer and owner’s son, Jeffrey Wilpon, and the Mets’ General
Counsel, David Cohen, for sex, race and color discrimination.
At one point during her employment, Jackson, an African-American woman
who holds a Masters’ Degree in Human Resources, was advised by Mets’
management that she was responsible for cleaning the kitchen or “pantry” area
at Shea Stadium. Wilpon, overhearing Jackson object to janitorial duties given
her $85,500.00 per annum Director’s level position, confirmed that Ms. Jackson
was in fact responsible for removing used kitchen utensils and serving trays
from the pantry area.
Ms. Jackson was also directed by Mets’ General Counsel David Cohen to
personally ensure that breakfast cereal was available in the kitchen pantry at
8:30 a.m. each workday. Ms. Jackson suggested to Mr. Cohen that the
receptionist, who arrived daily at 8:30 a.m., would probably be a more suitable
employee to manage the cereal and related morning consumables.
At Mr. Cohen’s insistence, however, Ms. Jackson personally stocked the pantry
with dried breakfast cereals and cereal storage containers. Thereafter, Mr.
Cohen telephoned Ms. Jackson to complain that the containers “poured out
only one or two Cheerios at a time.” When Ms. Jackson advised him that the lids
were removable, Mr. Cohen indicated that he did not want to take that
particular action as “the cereal could spill.”
Ms. Jackson was also paid less than comparably positioned men at the Mets
and denied promised raises and promotions. When she complained about
discrimination based on sex, race and color, her employment was terminated in
retaliation for the invocation of her civil rights.
Ms. Jackson is seeking monetary compensation including compensatory and
punitive damages.
Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock & Sipser, LLP, a Plaintiff’s labor and employment
firm in NYC represents her.
For more information about the case, to obtain a copy of the federal court
complaint or to speak with Shez Jackson, contact Jack Tuckner or William
Sipser at 212.766.9100 or jtuckner@womensrightsny.com or
