Sues Homeland Security & Wins

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Registered: 06-01-2003
Sues Homeland Security & Wins
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 8:25am
Arab American Wins Jury Verdict of $305,000 in Employment

Discrimination Case

vs. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice

Washington, DC, July 30--On July 26, a Florida jury awarded Simon Abi

Nader, an Arab American, $305,000 in his employment discrimination

suit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the

Department of Justice (DOJ). Abi Nader was subjected to an abusive

work environment based on his national origin/race. Abi Nader, an

Area Port Director for the DHS, had routinely experienced

discrimination, harassment and humiliation perpetrated by high-level

agency officials while employed in the Miami District Office of the

Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Service

(formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service under the

Department of Justice).

According to Abi Nader, "the DOJ/INS prevented me, as an Area Port

Director of three major ports, in South Florida from sharing my

knowledge, my experience, and my abilities to prevent terrorists from

entering this country. Immediately after 9/11, I was prohibited from

leaving my office without notifying my immediate supervisor. On a

daily basis, I had to inform him of every move I made and every person

I contacted as the Area Port Director." Rod Hannah, Abi Nader's

attorney added, "The jury's verdict reflects their recognition that

Mr. Nader's civil rights, as those of all American workers, not just

Arab-Americans, have substantial value in this post-9/11 world.

Additionally, the fact that the jury returned a verdict for more than

what we asked them for reflects a jury that was angry for being

blatantly lied to, under oath, by the high-level agency witnesses who

engaged in the discrimination and harassment."

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) had been

monitoring this case and numerous others as part of its daily work.

ADC President Mary Rose Oakar noted, "This verdict upholds the civil

rights of all Americans and provides much needed encouragement for

countless Arab Americans who have been harassed, humiliated, and/or

terminated from their employment in the post 9-11 climate."

www.adc.org