A former United Wholesale Mortgage employee is suing the Pontiac-based company for discrimination.
In a lawsuit filed Friday in the Eastern District of Michigan, Corey Tucker says he "was assaulted both physically and verbally by his Caucasian co-workers while at the workplace."
UWM said it does not comment on pending litigation
Tucker's employment as an account executive began in December 2021. The lawsuit claims that "white co-workers would hurl insensitive as well as racist comments at Plaintiff based upon his status as a Black man."
The complaint says some of these comments included being told that a Black manager, "is Black, fit and looks intimidating, but he's soft."
"Plaintiff asked what his color had to do with anything, and he stated that Plaintiff was a 'smooth talker' and told him to go back to his desk," according to the complaint. "He further commented about another Black team lead that he was 'stealing all my Black kids.'”
In June 2022, Tucker was shot in the face with a Nerf gun at close range by a co-worker. He reported the situation to human resources and was accused seven days later of walking around when he was supposed to be making calls. Tucker says he was in the restroom and claims he made more calls in one day than several other employees.
Another co-worker vouched for Tucker's bathroom break and was told by their manager to stay out of it "and said that he was the 'master of these four walls' and he 'runs this.'"
Tucker took offense and considered it a reference to slavery and said he planned to go to human resources. Just a few hours later he was terminated for purportedly "walking around" during a "power block."
Tucker is seeking an award of lost wages and fringe benefits, both past and future, along with compensatory and exemplary damages.
