Homeland Security worker awarded $2.5M in retaliation case

A former Homeland Security employee has been awarded $2.5 million in federal court after claiming he was retaliated against for complaining of harassment and discrimination.

Ulysses Hudson was awarded the settlement following a five day trial at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Hudson, an intelligence research specialist, originally sued the Department of Homeland Security in 2001, claiming racial harassment by managers and coworkers. Hudson said conduct such as racial slurs, putting nails in his tires and treating him as less than an equal caused him depression and anxiety. He lost that lawsuit, but brought the second suit when he was fired for refusing to return to the Miami office.

Hudson said the offer of returning to Miami, which his doctor advised against, or being terminated amounted to retaliation for the original lawsuit.

The jury agreed, and awarded Hudson the $2.5 million verdict.