ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CN) - Pathmark Stores allowed the manager of its Ventnor, N.J., store to hang two "offensive, racially charged 'hanging noose(s)'" in the store, intimidating its five black employees, and to punish one who protested, Shawn Johnson claims in Atlantic County Court.
Johnson claims defendant manager Joe Servis hung a noose in his office, and another one in the back room of the produce department. Johnson says a black so-worker photographed the nooses and sent the photos to Pathmark and to its corporate parent, A&P. He says black workers walked off the job to protest the nooses on April 6. In retaliation he says, Servis suspended him without pay for a week, changed his shifts and denied him a promotion. He demands punitive damages for harassment and discrimination. He is represented by Daniel Zonies of Voorhees, N.J.
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