A former employee of the Kansas City Chiefs is suing the organization over what he says are unlawful discriminatory employment practices based on his race.
Ramzee Robinson is seeking $5 million, plus declaratory and equitable relief from the Chiefs over discriminatory actions he says the organization took against him during his nine-year tenure as a Chiefs employee. Robinson, identified as “an African American male,” filed the complaint Sunday in Missouri Western District Court.
Advertisement
Robinson most recently worked as the Chiefs’ director of player engagement, where he managed three employees and his duties included locker room management and player-to-coach mentorship.
According to the lawsuit, Robinson ended his employment with the Chiefs with a $125,000 salary, though positions comparable to Robinson’s average closer to a $171,932 salary. When Robinson requested a compensation review and/or salary increase from Chiefs president Mark Donovan, it was denied, the lawsuit said, and Robinson was told he had been given previous raises.
Robinson’s employment with the Chiefs ended in February. On the 15th of that month, the lawsuit states, Chiefs executive vice president of administration Kirsten Krug called Robinson into her office and said she saw Robinson attack Melissa Weinsz, a White female and one of Robinson’s direct reports, via security cameras. Krug refused to show Robinson the video and later terminated his employment, per the lawsuit. Weinsz took over as director of player engagement “within days” of Robinson’s termination, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also alleges the Chiefs paid other African American business employees less than their White counterparts. An African American female previously held a management position with a $50,000 salary, and after her resignation, that role was filled by Weinsz for a $80,000 salary, the lawsuit said.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that before Robinson’s termination, the Houston Texans asked Chiefs management to interview him. The Chiefs refused and said it would violate Robinson’s contract, which the lawsuit alleges was an act of retaliation and tortious interference with Robinson’s business expectancy.
“We can’t comment because it’s an active legal matter,” Chiefs V.P. of football communications Brad Gee told Pro Football Talk Wednesday. “But to be clear, the Chiefs do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We look forward to the facts of this case coming to light.”
Advertisement
Robinson is a former NFL cornerback. He was selected with the last pick in the 2007 draft by the Detroit Lions and remained in the league until 2012 with multiple teams, often working his way back from injury or practice-squad status. According to his LinkedIn, Robinson is now working as a Trauma Focused Talk Therapist with Jackson County Children’s Division, a position he has held since Sept. 2020.
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
