In a striking legal move, a group of current and former employees have filed a lawsuit against their employer, alleging severe racial discrimination and retaliation. The complaint was filed by plaintiffs Jordan Evans, Larry Caldwell, Ryan Bell, William Massey, William Sharp, and Betty Joshua in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas on November 17, 2025. The defendant in this case is UPS Cartage Services, Inc., a well-known logistics company.
The plaintiffs accuse UPS of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by engaging in systemic racial discrimination and creating a hostile work environment. They allege that UPS retaliated against them for reporting these violations and for filing an earlier lawsuit on June 13, 2023. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs are Black employees who have faced discriminatory policies affecting selection, promotion, pay disparities, and differential treatment compared to their White counterparts. The complaint highlights instances where African American employees were denied overtime opportunities and subjected to harsher disciplinary actions than White employees.
One plaintiff, Larry Caldwell, describes how his work environment became increasingly hostile after participating in the initial lawsuit. He reports being denied overtime opportunities while less senior White employees were given preference. Another plaintiff, Jordan Evans, claims he was wrongfully terminated shortly after the first lawsuit was filed but was later reinstated with a discriminatory suspension not applied to other reinstated employees.
The complaint further details specific instances of alleged discrimination faced by each plaintiff. For example, Ryan Bell recounts receiving unwarranted disciplinary actions designed to create grounds for termination following his involvement in the lawsuit. William Massey highlights how he has been systematically denied overtime despite his seniority at UPS. Meanwhile, Betty Joshua describes being transferred from her position as part of what she believes is an ongoing pattern of stripping leadership roles from African American employees.
The plaintiffs seek various forms of relief from the court including declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent further unlawful practices by UPS. They also request back pay, front pay, compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits due to discriminatory practices. Additionally, they seek punitive damages to deter future misconduct by UPS along with attorneys’ fees and costs associated with bringing this action forward.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Elizabeth “BB” Sanford (Texas Bar No. 24100618), Brian Sanford (Texas Bar No. 17630700), and Karla Connell (Texas Bar No. 24138103) from The Sanford Firm based in Dallas. The case is presided over by Judge Ada Brown under Case ID: 3:25-cv-3144.
Source: 325cv0314_Jordan_Evans_v_UPS_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Texas.pdf
