Raymond Bradley III has filed a lawsuit against Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., alleging racial discrimination in the workplace. The complaint was filed on February 25, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Bradley claims that he was unjustly terminated from his position as a dock worker due to racial bias, following an altercation with a coworker who faced no disciplinary action.
Bradley began working for Old Dominion Freight Line on July 19, 2021. He alleges that during his employment, he consistently met or exceeded performance expectations and had no prior disciplinary issues. However, on May 19, 2024, a Hispanic coworker allegedly yelled at him using derogatory language while he was performing his duties. Bradley maintains that he responded calmly and without threats but was subsequently terminated from his job while the coworker remained employed without any known repercussions.
The complaint accuses Old Dominion Freight Line of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by discriminating against Bradley based on race and color. Bradley asserts that this discrimination led to economic losses and emotional distress. He is seeking various forms of relief from the court, including compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress, punitive damages, equitable relief as deemed appropriate by the court, and coverage of attorney’s fees and costs.
Bradley's legal representation is provided by Michael T. Smith from the Law Offices of Michael T. Smith & Associates, P.C., located in Lisle, Illinois. The case has been assigned Case No. 1:25-cv-01971 in front of Judge Amrith Kaur Aakre.