Ex-security coordinator files lawsuit against Texans

Former Texans security coordinator Jeff Pope has filed a lawsuit in district court against the team, according to court records.

Pope, who was fired on May 8 after being hired in 2017, is seeking unpaid overtime, damages and attorney fees under the Fair Labor Standards act, according to the lawsuit filed on his behalf by his Houston-based lawyer, N. Lucy Chukwura.

“My client and I have proceeded as prudently as possible,” Chukwurah said in a telephone interview Friday afternoon. “We have every intention of seeing it through. There’s been a lot of back-scene things out of the light of the media. The lack of activity doesn’t mean things haven’t been happening.”

The Texans have no comment on the litigation.

Pope, who is black, previously filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging he was fired on the basis of race. Multiple sources not authorized to speak publicly said that Pope was fired for falsifying overtime and payroll records.

Pope alleges he is actually owed back pay.

“With the lawsuit, I was talking with my lawyer about the circumstances and had questions about some of my requirements, so she looked it over and we talked and she saw there were some things I should be due,” Pope said in a telephone interview. “We decided to pursue it. In essence, it’s what we feel is money owed.”

Chukwurah indicated the EEOC complaint remains active.

“We have every intention of seeing both things through,” Chukwurah said. “I maintain my position that this an organization that is not welcoming to African Americans despite their roster.”

The Texans have previously denied Pope’s allegations of discrimination.

“We have just been made aware of Mr. Pope’s claim,” the Texans said in a statement. “We do not comment on pending litigation. The Houston Texans do not tolerate personal or professional discrimination of any kind.”

In regards to the EEOC complaint, Pope said: “It’s still working its way through the system, still going through the process. That’s all I can say.”

In the lawsuit, Pope seeks to “correct unlawful employment practices, including Defendant’s failure to abide by wage and hour laws. This action seeks to recover unpaid wages and other damages owed by Defendant.”

Pope states that he regularly worked over 40 hours per week, working up to and in excess of 12 to 16 hours per day seven days per week and that he was required to work overnight prior to home and away games as well as during training camp. Pope alleges the Texans didn’t keep accurate records of his work hours.

“Plaintiff was required to spend the night at a hotel with players in order to tend to whatever needs players may have and provide security before game day,” the lawsuit stated. “Plaintiff would accrue overtime hours during these overnight stays, but Plaintiff received no pay for those hours worked during those overnight hours. Plaintiff is entitled to overtime at one- and one-half times his regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty in a work week.

“Defendant did not pay Plaintiff one- and one-half times his regular rates of pay for hours worked in excess of forty per week that accrued during overnight hours for home and away games, as well as for training camp. Defendant failed to accurately record and report the hourly pay on its payroll records and failed to properly pay Plaintiff for hours over forty hours a week that accrued during overnight hours for home and away games, as well as for training camp.”