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Another former employee sues TCU for discrimination: Lawsuit alleges 'institutional racism'

 Standing man wearing glasses near a framed picture
Bill Zeeble
/
四虎影院
Attorney Jason Smith says he's represented three former TCU employees who all sued alleging racial discrimination. He said the school has a problem.

Texas Christian University is facing from a former employee alleging racial discrimination.

Armando Rios worked at the school as a maintenance supervisor. He alleges he was passed up for promotions, and was later terminated for 鈥減oor performance鈥 after he complained.

鈥淭hose jobs weren't posted and white employees who weren't nearly as experienced or qualified as him were given those positions,鈥 Rios鈥 attorney, Jason Smith, said.

Rios had worked for TCU for more than three years, the lawsuit states, and 鈥渨as a hard-working employee 鈥 who received evaluations exceeding expectations.

鈥淭his is a case of institutional racism,鈥 the lawsuit reads.

Rios is the third TCU worker who's been fired that Smith has represented in their cases against the Fort Worth university. He previously representedLinda Lopez and, in a separate case, . Both lawsuits were eventually settled.

The latest lawsuit alleges Rios was accused of racism himself 鈥渁gainst Mexicans.鈥

鈥淭hat on its face is preposterous," Smith said.

TCU said in a statement to 四虎影院 that "it does not comment on details of legal or personnel matters,鈥 adding that this is the second lawsuit Rios has filed against the university.

鈥淭he federal court dismissed his earlier case. We can share that TCU engaged an outside investigator to review the former employee's claims. The outside firm did not find any instances of illegal discrimination."

Court documents show that case settled for an undisclosed amount, as was another Smith was involved with.

A separate lawsuit alleging racial discrimination against a Black honors student was settled in 2021.

Rio鈥檚 lawsuit has a trial date next July.

Bill Zeeble has been a full-time reporter at 四虎影院 since 1992, covering everything from medicine to the Mavericks and education to environmental issues.