For Immediate Release
Lawsuit claims a long-serving Black employee was singled out for investigation, denied equal treatment, and terminated after raising internal discrimination complaints
New York, NY — January 27, 2026, The Sanders Firm, P.C., through civil-rights attorney Eric Sanders, Esq., announced today that it has filed a verified complaint in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Bronx County, alleging systemic racial discrimination, a hostile work environment, and unlawful retaliation within the Office of the District Attorney, Bronx County.
The plaintiff, Tisha Hatch, a Black woman and long-serving City employee, alleges that she was subjected to racially disparate treatment, targeted investigations limited to employees of color, retaliatory workplace restrictions, and a pretextual termination after engaging in protected activity.
According to the complaint, Ms. Hatch worked for the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for more than seven years and held the civil service title of Community Associate. In or about June 2022, she filed a formal grievance raising concerns about employees being required to work out of title and about racially disparate practices within the office. The lawsuit alleges that, rather than addressing those concerns, senior leadership and human resources officials subjected her to escalating hostile work environment and retaliation.
The complaint alleges that in March 2023, only Black and Hispanic employees were questioned during a workplace investigation, while similarly situated White employees were not questioned at all. Ms. Hatch further alleges that she was subjected to overtime restrictions not imposed on non-Black employees, interference with her work assignments, isolation from coworkers, and fabricated accusations regarding her conduct and competence.
In February 2024, Ms. Hatch was suspended without pay and subsequently terminated on March 4, 2024, allegedly for overtime theft. The complaint asserts that no documentary, video, or swipe-card evidence was ever produced to support the allegation, despite repeated requests by Ms. Hatch and her union representatives. The lawsuit further alleges that the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office failed to substantiate the termination during unemployment proceedings, resulting in the release of Ms. Hatch’s unemployment benefits.
The action names as defendants the City of New York and senior officials within the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, including District Attorney Darcel Clark, the Chief of Staff, the Chief Human Resources Officer, Equal Employment Opportunity officials, and supervisory personnel. The complaint alleges that these defendants exercised supervisory or policymaking authority and participated in, ratified, or failed to remediate the alleged unlawful conduct.
The lawsuit asserts claims under the New York State Human Rights Law and the New York City Human Rights Law, alleging race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation. The complaint emphasizes that, under the post-2019 amendments to those statutes, plaintiffs are not required to demonstrate conduct that is severe or pervasive, but only that they were subjected to inferior terms and conditions of employment because of race or protected activity.
“This case raises serious questions about how discrimination complaints are handled inside one of New York City’s most powerful prosecutorial offices,” said Eric Sanders, Esq., counsel for the plaintiff. “The complaint alleges that when a Black employee spoke up about unlawful practices, the response was not correction—but retaliation and removal.”
The case seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages where permitted by law, attorneys’ fees, and declaratory relief. A jury trial has been demanded.
About The Sanders Firm, P.C.
Founded by civil-rights attorney Eric Sanders, The Sanders Firm, P.C. is a New York–based law firm concentrating on civil-rights, employment, and police-accountability litigation. The firm is known for handling complex cases involving racial discrimination, due-process violations, and institutional abuse of power, particularly where government actions undermine constitutional and civil-service protections.
The allegations set forth in the complaint are claims only and have not yet been adjudicated.
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Read the Verified Complaint