Former Director Alleges Racial Discrimination Against Cancer Research Organization

In a striking legal move, a former high-ranking employee has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging racial discrimination in the workplace. On January 16, 2026, Michael P. Schriks submitted a complaint to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, accusing City of Hope (Inc.) of wrongful termination based on race.

The case centers around Schriks’ dismissal from his role as Director of Strategic Operations at City of Hope on August 11, 2025. According to the complaint, Schriks was let go under the pretense of “unprofessional behavior” following an innocuous interaction with a co-worker that took place three months prior. Schriks contends that this reason was merely a façade for racially motivated decisions aligned with City of Hope’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mission. The complaint alleges that CEO Jonathan Watkins and other leaders prioritized racial factors over merit in personnel decisions. “Federal employment discrimination law does not allow racial balancing efforts under a ‘DEI’ banner,” the filing states.

Schriks’ lawsuit seeks monetary damages and relief for what he claims is a violation of his rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1866, specifically citing 42 U.S.C. § 1981. The plaintiff argues that if he were African American, he would not have been terminated and points to instances where African American employees received more lenient treatment for comparable or worse conduct.

The document details several instances where race allegedly influenced hiring and promotion decisions at City of Hope. It highlights cases where qualified Caucasian candidates were overlooked in favor of less experienced African American individuals. These actions are portrayed as part of an organizational culture driven by DEI objectives rather than equitable merit-based decision-making.

In addition to seeking back pay and compensatory damages for emotional distress and pain suffered due to his termination, Schriks is also pursuing punitive damages against City of Hope. He argues that these measures are necessary to deter future discriminatory practices by the organization.

Representing Schriks is attorney Christopher G. Moorman from Moorman Pieschel LLC. The case has been assigned to Judge Leigh Martin May with Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard overseeing preliminary matters under Case ID 3:26-cv-00012-LMM-RGV.