KANSAS CITY, Kan. (CN) - A veteran claims in court that Union Pacific Railroad fired him on a bogus charge of violating its workplace violence policy, because of his obscene, threatening tattoo that "commemorate(s) his service in the U.S. Marine Corps."
Carl Newman sued the railroad in Federal Court. He claims a manager photographed a tattoo on his upper arm "which became partially visible as plaintiff leaned forward and his shirt sleeve rode up."
The complaint states: "The tattoo [the manager] photographed is a quotation of a statement made by General James Mattis to Iraqi tribal leaders, which reads: 'I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery, but I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all.'
"The tattoo [the manager] photographed is one of several tattoos plaintiff had gotten a number of years prior to the events described herein to commemorate his service in the U.S. Marine Corps."
After jumping through a few hoops, the railroad fired him, Newman says.
He seeks lost wages and punitive damages for discrimination, retaliation and wrongful firing.
He is represented by Bradford Kendall with Holtsclaw & Kendall, of Kansas City, Mo.
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