Three former Black employees have taken Life University to federal court, accusing the Marietta campus of racial discrimination and retaliation. In their complaint, they say supervisors treated them as “the help,” that the workplace became so hostile one plaintiff felt forced to leave, and that the others were ultimately fired. Filed last month, the lawsuit seeks punitive damages and lands on top of a growing stack of legal claims targeting the school. Life University has denied any wrongdoing and says it will fight the allegations in court.
According to Atlanta News First, the complaint names plaintiff Monica Franklin-Redden and two of her former colleagues. They allege they were “treated in a rude and uncaring manner,” assigned work that white employees were normally expected to handle, and that Franklin-Redden was “constructively discharged” after the stress allegedly took a toll on her mental health. When she went on leave, the complaint says, Life University fired the two remaining plaintiffs and three additional Black staffers from the Housing and Student Affairs Department. All five terminations reportedly happened on the same day in August 2022 and did not involve any white employees, a pattern the plaintiffs argue shows both discrimination and retaliation.
What plaintiffs allege
The lawsuit accuses administrators of using security cameras to keep tabs on Black workers, denying them the tools and access needed to complete their assignments, and repeatedly “setting them up to fail.” The plaintiffs say supervisors singled out Black employees for harsher discipline and chipped away at their professional reputations. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that administrators Marc Schneider and Janna Bredeson are also named as defendants in the complaint.
A pattern of complaints
The June filing is the fifth federal lawsuit brought against Life University by New York attorney Megan S. Goddard and Atlanta attorney L'Erin Wiggins since 2023, representing seven former employees in total, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Three earlier complaints were settled by the university last year. The June suit and another filed in November remain active and each seek at least $1 million in punitive damages per plaintiff. In a statement quoted by the paper, Life University said the “allegations are just that, allegations” and vowed to address them through the legal process.
University response
Life University has publicly framed the new filing as part of a broader litigation strategy by the same attorneys behind the prior lawsuits and emphasized what it describes as a strong commitment to diversity and training. The school also said it had not yet been formally served with the June complaint and would respond through the courts. Atlanta News First published the university's full written response.
Earlier federal action
This is not the first time Life University has faced federal scrutiny over race discrimination. In 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the school, alleging that two Black financial aid counselors were disciplined more harshly than white colleagues and then fired after they complained. The EEOC said in a press release that it filed suit in U.S. District Court after efforts to resolve the matter through conciliation failed, and that the case later ended in a settlement. The EEOC published details of the charge and legal claim.
Campus strain and context
The latest lawsuit lands at a tense moment for the Marietta campus. The university is navigating significant financial strain, and administrators recently announced staff and benefit cuts as they worked to close a multimillion-dollar budget gap. Hoodline reported that more than 30 positions were eliminated and the school's 401(k) match was suspended at the end of June, moves that faculty and staff said had already heightened uncertainty on campus. Those cost-cutting steps have unfolded alongside the recent wave of employment disputes and settlements, fueling wider concern about workplace culture and governance. The outlet detailed how Life University slashed jobs and 401(k) match as part of its budget response.
What’s next
The new case is pending in federal court and is expected to move into the familiar grind of pretrial litigation, including discovery, motions, and depositions, as both sides gather evidence. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with injunctive relief, while Life University maintains it will vigorously contest the claims. With several related suits still alive, early rulings on motions or discovery could shape any future settlement talks. As the case progresses, the federal court docket will track new filings and any hearing dates that emerge.
