TORRANCE (CNS) - A 65-year-old Black former teacher at a Catholic high school is suing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, maintaining that he was wrongfully fired because of his age, his race and his objections to alleged administration requests that he raise some students' grades.
Bernard Labat's Torrance Superior Court lawsuit allegations include wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, race and age discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination, violation of the state Labor Code and breach of contract. Labat seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit brought June 17.
An archdiocese spokeswoman said the organization does not comment on personnel matters.
Labat was hired in August 2020 at St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey and was 63 when he was fired, according to the suit. Throughout his employment at the school, he was subjected to such questions as, "How old are you?" the suit alleges.
How old Labat was had no impact on his job and performance, but at one point the administration insinuated that his age was the reason why he did not submit grades on time because he ostensibly was not as skilled with current technology, the suit states.
The administration also told Labat often that Black students needed to be taught differently, the suit states.
"Plaintiff was shocked and appalled that defendants would make such racially charged comments" and believed the administration "had a disdain for people of color," according to the suit.
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