Coronet Howell, a former employee of a prominent Bitcoin mining company, has filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. The complaint was filed by Howell on February 18, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Riot Platforms, Inc., and unnamed employees. Howell’s allegations bring to light serious issues of racial harassment and discriminatory practices within the company.
The lawsuit details Howell’s experience as the only Black employee on his crew at Riot Platforms’ Corsicana Facility in Texas. He claims that during his employment, he was subjected to racial slurs from coworkers and faced retaliation after reporting these incidents to Human Resources. In one instance, Howell alleges that a coworker used the N-word either directed at him or in his presence, which he promptly reported. Following this report, Howell discovered that his canteen had been intentionally contaminated with urine—a retaliatory act according to the plaintiff. These actions are claimed to have created a hostile work environment that significantly impacted Howell’s emotional well-being.
Howell’s complaint is grounded in violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, which prohibit employment discrimination based on race. The plaintiff argues that Riot Platforms failed to take appropriate corrective action despite being aware of the harassment and retaliation he faced. He also accuses his supervisor Rusty Knight and other coworkers of obstructing his efforts to report these incidents effectively.
In addition to recounting these experiences, Howell seeks relief from the court for economic damages such as lost wages and benefits, as well as non-economic damages including emotional distress and mental anguish. Furthermore, he requests punitive damages due to what he describes as Riot Platforms’ reckless indifference towards federally protected rights against discrimination.
Represented by attorney Taylor McCray Hunter from Hunter Law Corporation PC, Coronet Howell is determined to hold Riot Platforms accountable for their alleged failure to prevent workplace discrimination and retaliation. The case is presided over by Judge B under Case ID: 3:26-cv-00532-B.
Source: 326cv00532_Coronet_Howell_v_Riot_Platforms_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Texas.pdf
