In a striking legal battle that underscores ongoing issues of workplace discrimination, a former employee has taken legal action against his previous employer, alleging severe misconduct and violations of federal and state laws. Hassane Maqsoud filed a complaint on April 28, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing the City of St. Petersburg of multiple discriminatory practices during his employment.

Maqsoud’s lawsuit details an array of grievances against the City of St. Petersburg, where he was employed from June 3, 2022, to December 18, 2023. The complaint accuses the city of unlawful discrimination based on race, national origin, and disability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA). Furthermore, Maqsoud alleges violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), citing interference with his rights and retaliation for exercising them.

The plaintiff claims that throughout his tenure as a part-time seasonal laborer and later as a full-time maintenance worker, he endured racial slurs from coworkers and supervisors. Terms such as “camel jockey” and “Moroccan sand nigger” were allegedly used against him. Maqsoud also reported being called derogatory names by his supervisor Yates after lodging complaints about these incidents to HR Manager Kristen Mory. He states that these complaints were not kept confidential as promised but instead led to further harassment.

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