A lawsuit has been filed alleging that an employee was subjected to racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and a hostile work environment while working at a major healthcare institution. The complaint was submitted by Leland Peterson in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on March 26, 2026, naming the Cleveland Clinic Foundation as the defendant.
According to the filing, Peterson is an African American male who worked as a Stationary Engineer at the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. He claims that he faced racially charged remarks, public humiliation, and disproportionate disciplinary action during his employment. The complaint states that after Peterson opposed what he described as discriminatory treatment in the workplace, he experienced heightened scrutiny from management and increasing isolation from co-workers.
The legal document outlines several incidents leading up to these allegations. On December 18, 2025, Peterson and a co-worker were instructed by their supervisor to remain after hours to assist with shutting down a major steam valve in a hospital building. The task required use of a ladder due to its location. While performing this assignment under time pressure from supervisors, Peterson was photographed by a supervisor from the Pharmacy department without his consent. This photograph was later posted on the Cleveland Clinic website.
Peterson alleges that publication of this photograph falsely suggested he had engaged in unsafe or improper conduct within a sterile hospital environment. He further claims that inappropriate remarks were made about him by supervisory staff during this incident—specifically accusations that he stood on ceiling tiles (which Peterson asserts was physically impossible) and performed his duties “willy-nilly.” These remarks were made in front of co-workers who reportedly laughed at them.
Following this event, Peterson received a final written warning despite having no prior disciplinary history. The complaint notes that such action was inconsistent with standard progressive disciplinary practices at the institution. In contrast, his co-worker—who held the same position and participated in the same task—was not disciplined. As stated in the filing: “Plaintiff’s co-worker…was not disciplined.”
Peterson asserts that after receiving this warning his employment record suffered negative consequences and he became increasingly isolated at work due to concerns among colleagues about being associated with someone under scrutiny by management. He believes these actions were motivated by race: “Plaintiff reasonably believes that he was subjected to discriminatory treatment because he is African American.”
The lawsuit brings multiple counts against Cleveland Clinic Foundation including race discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; hostile work environment; retaliation for opposing discriminatory conduct; violations of Ohio Revised Code regarding employment discrimination; defamation based on statements suggesting contamination of pharmacy areas; false light invasion of privacy due to unauthorized photography; intentional infliction of emotional distress; and negligent supervision and retention.
The plaintiff argues that supervisory personnel published false statements about him which harmed his professional reputation: “Defendant’s supervisory personnel published statements suggesting Plaintiff contaminated the pharmacy area…The statements were false.” Additionally, it is alleged that these actions caused emotional distress and reputational harm.
As relief from the court, Peterson requests judgment in his favor along with compensatory damages for emotional distress, humiliation, damage to employment record and reputation, loss of career opportunities and wages (including back pay and front pay), punitive damages where permitted by law, attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to Title VII, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, as well as any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is being handled by attorney Isaac Tom Monah of Monah Law Offices Inc., located in Beachwood, Ohio. The case number is 1:26-cv-00731-JPC.
Source: 126cv00731_Peterson_v_Cleveland_Clinic_Foundation_Complaint_Northern_District_Ohio.pdf
