A former employee of Belleville Shoe Manufacturing Co. is suing the company in federal court, alleging that he was discriminated against and fired because he’s a transgender man.
The employee, Mason Burrell, also known as Alia Burrell, of Belleville, filed the civil lawsuit on Nov. 20 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission failed to make a determination on his case.
Burrell worked as a quality inspector at Belleville Shoe from February to Aug. 8, 2023, according to the lawsuit.
Burrell maintains that one of his coworkers refused to use his preferred pronouns (he/him), routinely made “vulgar” comments questioning his gender and otherwise harassed him, and that his manager failed to take corrective action when he complained.
“(Burrell’s) mistreatment at work at the hands of his co-workers and supervisors caused him to experience severe stress and anxiety that manifested as migraines, lightheadedness, and dizziness,” the lawsuit states.
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“At times, (Burrell) required hospitalization as a result of his mistreatment. Eventually, the stress ... made it impossible for him to continue to work for (the company). Accordingly, (he) involuntarily resigned from his job.”
Belleville Shoe Manufacturing Co., also branded as Belleville Boot Co., has been operating in the city since 1904. Today, it primarily makes boots for U.S. military personnel.
Director of Human Resources Yvonne Coffey said Tuesday that the company hadn’t yet been served with Burrell’s lawsuit. She declined to comment on pending litigation but spoke in general terms about company practices.
“We treat all of our employees fairly,” she said.
Burrell maintains that discrimination and harassment against him on the basis of gender/sex at Belleville Shoe violated the federal Civil Rights Act of 1991 and Illinois Human Rights Act.
The lawsuit lists six counts, two for hostile work environment based on sex, two for sex discrimination and two for retaliation.
Burrell is seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages due to lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life. The lawsuit also asks that his employment be reinstated.
“(The company’s) conduct was outrageous because of its evil motive or reckless indifference to (Burrell’s) rights and, as such, warrants an award of punitive damages in such sum as will serve to punish (company officials) and deter them and others from like conduct,” it states.
Burrell is represented by Ellen Bruntrager, a St. Louis-based attorney. She declined to comment Tuesday on pending litigation but spoke in general terms about employment-related discrimination cases.
Burrell started the process by filing a complaint against Belleville Shoe with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January.
“After 180 days, if the EEOC has not made a determination, the claimant can request that (the agency) close the investigative files, stop investigating and issue them a notice of right to sue,” Bruntrager said.
Burrell requested such notices and received one in August from the EEOC and one in October from the Illinois Department of Human Rights. At that point, he had 90 days to file a civil lawsuit in federal or state court.
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