Recently, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, in
Thompson v. Cenac Towing Co.,
L.L.C., analyzed a trial court’s grant of summary judgment in a company’s favor after a noose-like rope was found hanging in a maritime workplace and held that the trial court had improperly weighed the credibility of the plaintiff’s testimony, resulting in the reversal and remand of the case.
Although the
Thompson case arose under the Jones Act and federal maritime law, its holding reflects legal principles developed through unlawful harassment litigation under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The appellate court noted that “[i]t appear[ed] from the record that the plaintiff did not pursue the claims made in his petition for any employment-related damages for racial discrimination, hostile work environment, constructive discharge, or loss of benefits because of his race. Thus, from the record it appears that the plaintiff’s only claims are based in maritime law.” The noose (and other similar symbols of hate and violence) have been historically used as weapons of racial terror. In the modern workplace, the noose continues to be potentially used as an instrument of racial discrimination and harassment.

Related Keywords

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