A former employee has taken legal action against his previous employer, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. Eric Kuykendal filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on February 25, 2026, against Place Services Inc., claiming violations of his civil rights under federal law.
Eric Kuykendal, an electrician who began working for Place Services Inc. on February 2, 2024, asserts that he faced discriminatory treatment based on his race. According to the complaint, Kuykendal reported to Human Resources on October 17, 2025, that his supervisor, Jerome Hayes, treated him more harshly than African American employees. “Mr. Hayes would speak to Plaintiff in a degrading tone but did not do the same for African American Electricians,” states the complaint. Despite raising these concerns, Kuykendal claims that no corrective action was taken by the company.
The situation escalated when Kuykendal’s job assignment ended on October 31, 2025. While other African American electricians were reassigned to new jobs promptly, Kuykendal was informed by Scott Blakely that there was no further work available for him and that he would be let go. This sequence of events led Kuykendal to allege retaliation in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 because his termination occurred shortly after he reported discrimination.
Kuykendal’s lawsuit seeks various forms of relief from the court. He is asking for general damages for mental and emotional suffering caused by what he describes as Place Services Inc.’s misconduct. Additionally, he seeks punitive damages due to what he claims were willful and malicious acts by the defendant. The lawsuit also requests special damages or liquidated damages for lost wages and benefits with prejudgment interest and reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
Furthermore, Kuykendal demands a jury trial and seeks declaratory relief affirming that Place Services Inc. violated his statutory rights along with injunctive relief prohibiting further unlawful conduct by the defendant.
The case is being handled by Jeremy Stephens of Morgan & Morgan P.A., representing Eric Kuykendal as counsel for the plaintiff. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:26-cv-01092-TWT-JEM in front of Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr.
Source: 126cv01092_Eric_Kuykendal_v_Place_Services_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf