A former Caltrans worker alleges a co-worker subjected him to racist abuse, together with references to the 9/11 terrorist assaults and bestiality, a lawsuit filed on Monday claims.
Gurender Nagra accused Caltrans of permitting the discrimination and harassment to happen and stated a “hostile work setting” compelled him to stop his job as an gear operator, in keeping with the go well with filed in San Mateo County Superior Court docket.
In a single occasion, Nagra and his co-worker, Steve Welch, a bridge-maintenance supervisor, have been in a basket beneath the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in November 2020 when Welch allegedly requested Nagra “how he managed to explode the towers” and if he deliberate to “blow up the toll plaza,” Nagra claimed within the lawsuit and in an interview with Caltrans investigators that was included within the courtroom paperwork.
Welch, who was not Nagra’s supervisor however labored with him at instances on Caltrans’ San Mateo Bridge crew, made reference to intercourse with a goat and instructed it was “allowed in (Nagra’s) nation,” and he instructed Nagra he shouldn't be within the U.S., in keeping with the lawsuit.
When Nagra, of San Jose, instructed Welch he was going to report the abuse to a supervisor, Welch responded, “So, you're going to be a punk now?” the go well with alleged.
Nagra at that time in late 2020 had already instructed Welch twice over the earlier six months to cease his alleged race-based harassment, Nagra claimed. “He replied he was joking round and stated he wouldn't do it once more (however) he did,” the go well with alleges.
When Nagra, born in India and of the Sikh faith, instructed Welch that his slurs appeared to focus on Muslims, Welch made a reference to Nagra’s turban and stated, “You all look the identical,” Nagra claimed.
Efforts by the Bay Space Information Group to achieve Welch have been unsuccessful. Welch just isn't named as a defendant within the case Nagra filed in opposition to Caltrans. The state company didn't reply to questions concerning the lawsuit.
The lawsuit included a duplicate of an electronic mail Nagra despatched to his Caltrans supervisors two days after the alleged abuse beneath the bridge. “I do know it will jeopardize my profession, and I'd face backlash however I hope any individual doesn’t should face the identical as me,” Nagra wrote, after outlining his claims about Welch.
Welch, questioned by Caltrans investigators, denied making racist statements to Nagra, calling Nagra’s claims “horrendous” and “bull—t,” in keeping with Caltrans’ investigative report filed with the go well with.
Caltrans decided Welch “extra probably than not made feedback about (Nagra’s) nationwide origin and faith, and feedback about … Nagra being a terrorist,” in addition to making feedback about Nagra’s turban and accent, and making misplaced references to the Muslim faith, in keeping with the company’s report. Caltrans discovered Welch had violated its anti-discrimination coverage. Caltrans didn't reply to an inquiry about whether or not any motion was taken with regard to its findings about Welch’s habits towards Nagra.
Caltrans’ investigative report contains apologetic textual content messages Welch despatched to Nagra on the day Welch allegedly made the statements within the basket below the bridge.
Nagra is looking for unspecified damages.