A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a major home improvement retailer, alleging racial discrimination and unlawful termination. Jasmine Walker, the plaintiff, initiated this legal action on February 27, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, accusing The Home Depot, Inc. of violating her civil rights under federal law.
Jasmine Walker, an African American woman residing in Carroll County, Georgia, began her employment with The Home Depot as a Senior Operations Business Analyst on March 28, 2022. Her complaint outlines a series of events beginning in November 2024 when she attended a work-related trip accompanied by her four-month-old son and his nanny. Despite informing her leadership team in advance and not breaching any company policy regarding family members on work trips—a practice reportedly tolerated for employees outside her protected class—Walker was reprimanded by her manager at the behest of higher management. She believed this differential treatment was racially motivated and subsequently contacted Human Resources to confirm no policy violations had occurred.
Following her inquiry and complaint about discriminatory treatment to HR Director Jennifer Simaly, Walker was informed that her position would be eliminated due to an alleged reduction in force. However, evidence presented in the lawsuit suggests that non-African American colleagues retained their positions or were reassigned within the company while Walker’s role continued to be advertised internally and externally. Her last working day was January 28, 2025, with official termination occurring on March 29 of the same year.
The lawsuit accuses The Home Depot of racial discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1981. It further alleges retaliation following Walker’s complaints about disparate treatment based on race. According to the complaint, these actions violate federal statutes protecting employees from discrimination and ensuring equal contractual rights regardless of race.
Walker seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress caused by these alleged unlawful actions. Additionally, she requests punitive damages aimed at penalizing The Home Depot for its purportedly discriminatory conduct along with litigation costs and attorney fees.
Representing Jasmine Walker is attorney Jesse L. Kelly from Jesse Kelly PC located in Atlanta, Georgia. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-01128-SDG-RDC before Judge Steven D. Grimberg.
Source: 126cv01128_Jasmine_Walker_v_The_Home_Depot_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
