City of Toccoa facing lawsuit for discrimination

WNEG News has learned that the City of Toccoa is facing a federal lawsuit.

According to City Attorney John Dickerson, in October of 2018, a complaint was filed with the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging the Toccoa Police Department practiced discriminatory hiring and promotional practices; however, in November 2018, the EEOC closed the claim, stating there was not enough evidence to support the complaint.

“About a year and a half ago, an EEOC Claim was filed and the EEOC determined that they did not have enough information to proceed. Then a lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court. It was moved to Federal Court because of the allegation of discrimination. It’s been in Federal Court and proceeding orderly based on scheduling order from the court,” he said.

Dickerson says the case has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and because the lawyer representing the claimant recently passed away.

He says once these matters are filed in federal court, they must proceed by a schedule approved by the court.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you additional details as they become available.