RI Man Says He Was Assaulted & Faced Racial Discrimination While Working at Electric Boat in Lawsuit

RI Man Says He Was Assaulted & Faced Racial Discrimination While Working at Electric Boat in Lawsuit

A Rhode Island resident says he was assaulted multiple times — and subject to racist comments — while working at Electric Boat in Quonset, in a federal lawsuit filed this month in U.S. District Court.

According to the lawsuit, John Mack, an African-American male who is a resident of Cranston, was hired by Riley Power Group (RPG) in 2022 to work for RPG at Electric Boat as a Structural Nuclear Welder.

In the 7-page federal complaint, filed by attorney Samuel Kennedy-Smith, Mack says he reported the incidents to supervisors — and alleges he was ultimately fired in retaliation. 

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Now, he is charging he was “subjected to a pervasively hostile working environment” and retaliated against, in violation of whisteblower protection laws, and that he was subject to racial discrimination. 

 

About Alleged Incidents 

According to the lawsuit, RPG is a sub-contractor/vendor of Electric Boat at their facility at Quonset Point in North Kingstown and “Electric Boat personnel and/or supervisors regularly supervise and interact with RPG employees such as the Plaintiff such that Plaintiff and similarly situated employees of RPG are joint, shared and/or borrowed employees of Electric Boat.”

The lawsuit maintains that "at all times [Mack] received positive feedback and was never verbally counseled or disciplined in any other way."

However, Mack in the lawsuit then delineates a series of incidents that occurred prior to his termination.  

"In approximately late 2022 or early 2023, Plaintiff was physically assaulted by a white Electric Boat supervisor by the name of Mike. Plaintiff reported the assault and filled out a statement," according to the lawsuit. "A Human Resources ("HR") professional by the name of Thomas Ricci ("Ricci") asked Plaintiff not to file a police report because the matter would be handled by Electric Boat."

"Upon information and belief, Mlike was not disciplined in any substantive way," the suit continued. "Plaintiff was moved to a different building."

The lawsuit then says that Mack reported a colleague for allegations of improper work by a colleague. 

"In approximately the Spring of 2023, Plaintiff was asked by an Electric Boat supervisor to review a weld done by a white Electric Boat employee by the name of Sean. Plaintiff observed and reported numerous issues with the weld that diverged from Electric Boat policies/procedures," according to the suit. "Sean admitted that he intentionally failed to follow procedure. Such statements were made in front of witnesses. Plaintiff reported these statements to Thomas Ricci which resulted in an investigation."

"Sean was eventually given a brief suspension. Upon information and belief, per Electric Boat procedure, Sean should have faced termination and potentially prosecution," the lawsuit continued.

Then Mack says he was subject to racism -- and another assault 

"Thereafter, in early June 2023, Plaintiff was assisting a white Electric Boat employee hook up a torch line. A safety officer by the name of Julie asked Plaintiff and a white Electric Boat employee what was going on. Plaintiff explained what was going on with the torch line. `Julie' asked if Plaintiff and the Electric Boat employee were `brothers'  and then made several racist statements about `people like the Plaintiff (i. e. African  Americans)," according to the suit. 

"Plaintiff reported the incident to RPG and Electric Boat. The white Electric Boat employee filled out a statement. The Electric Boat foreman — a white man named Joe —  took Plaintiff to Thomas Ricci's office. Both Joe and Ricci indicated in conversation with the Plaintiff that they had received multiple complaints about racist comments and/or incidents involving Julie," the lawsuit continued. "Upon information and belief, Julie was not and has not been disciplined."

"Thereafter, Plaintiff was the victim of an assault by a co-worker," according to the suit. "Plaintiff and his Electric Boat supervisor — Jessica — were threatened by a RPG employee. This resulted in another report and statements from Plaintiff and Jessica identifying Plaintiff as the victim of an assault."

Mack says he was then terminated. 

"Thereafter, Electric Boat security told Plaintiff that they would be pulling his badge — i.e. his ability to work at Electric Boat — because of investigations that resulted from his prior reports of illegal and/or racist conduct," according to the suit. "Subsequently, on or about June 24, 2023 RPG contacted the Plaintiff and informed him he was terminated."

 

EB Responds

In its response to Mack’s complaint, Electric Boat admitted that it subcontracts work to RPG. It denies the majority of Mack’s allegations, but admitted he was escorted to the HR department following the reported torch line incident — and admitted the woman identified as “Julie” was not disciplined — but denied the rest of Mack’s allegations.

Electric Boat also denied the alleged violations contained in the four counts of the suit under the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act; the Rhode Island Whistleblower Protection Act; and the Fair Employment Practice Act (race discrimination and retaliation). 

According to Electric Boat’s responses, “Plaintiff was terminated for legitimate, nondiscriminatory business reasons.”

RPG has been granted an extension by the court for time to respond to the claims. 

Kennedy Smith, when reached, declined to comment on the matter further. 

Attorneys for Electric Boat and RPG did not respond to request for comment.