Two former CPS Energy employees have filed discrimination lawsuits, alleging wrongful terminations not based on just cause. Dr. Chinyere “ChiChi” Anyanwu, who was fired after an ethics probe last May, is seeking nearly $4 million, claiming discrimination based on age, race, national origin, and religious beliefs. Ruben Betancourt, terminated for alleged security protocol mishandling, filed his own federal lawsuit while dealing with terminated health insurance, bankruptcy, and homelessness, as reported by KSAT.
Dr. Anyanwu found herself in the crosshairs of an internal inquiry last March, tussling with allegations of inappropriate comments and conduct in the workplace, but it's the perceived air of intolerance to her accent and religious convictions that anchors her complaint – after all, it was remarks regarding her religious beliefs and an insistence on using specific pronouns that fueled her supervisor's push for her dismissal, her suit outlines as detailed by KSAT, and CPS Energy has clammed up, declining to comment due to the ongoing litigation. As for Betancourt, after misplacing his security badge post-surgery and under heavy medication, found himself awash in accusations of dodgy behavior, only to then be given the ax for allegedly not being forthcoming nor cooperative, as per his termination paperwork.
Chasing almost $4 million, Anyanwu's lawsuit breaks down her claims with $3.6 million tagged for lost past and future earnings; $250,000 earmarked for mental anguish and emotional distress; plus an extra $40,000 to cover attorney's fees. Betancourt's suit comes on the heels of a similar trajectory: a misstep, a misunderstanding, perhaps, leading to a confrontation with CPS Energy security and an eventual sacking just shy of his probation period’s end – he's asking for lost wages, yes, but also compensation for the emotional toll, the mental anguish, and the joy that's been sapped away from his life because of the ordeal, according to a recorded phone conversation with CPS Energy's human resources department obtained by KSAT.
CPS Energy has declined to comment on Betancourt's litigation. According to reports from KSAT, Betancourt describes experiencing isolation and hostility in the workplace after his termination. He claims that he was unaware of any issues with his work duties until his final meeting, where he was informed of alleged shortcomings that had never been mentioned before. This abrupt and unjust termination has added to his financial hardship and instability.
