Former Spitfire employee suing restaurant for ‘racial harassment’

FARGO (KVRR) – A former employee who says he was fired for complaining about racial harassment at a West Fargo restaurant is suing the company that owns the business in federal court.

Thomas L. Williams, who is African-American, says he was fired one week after he complained about an assistant manager telling a racially offensive joke at Spitfire Bar & Grill.

Williams was a barbecue chef at Spitfire from December, 2019 until February, 2022.

He’s accusing GTL Management LLC of violating federal law and the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

In November, The North Dakota Labor & Human Rights Commission issued Spitfire a letter which found reasonable cause to believe Spitfire violated anti-discrimination laws.

But in January, the complaint says Spitfire was informed that the commission was unable to secure a conciliation agreement acceptable to the commission.

Williams is seeking damages believed to be more than $75,000.

A manager at Spitfire says the company has no comment.