FORMER AIRPORT EXEC FILED BIAS LAWSUIT 4 DAYS BEFORE DEATH

4 days before death; alleged race-based treatment

Four days before he died, former Memphis International Airport vice president George Mabon filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the airport and its president.

Mabon’s lawsuit in U.S. District Court sought lost pay and benefits and unspecified damages, contending that airport President Scott Brockman treated Mabon “more harshly and adversely” than his white peers.

Mabon died Saturday at a Baton Rouge hospital after the car in which he riding was hit by another car, which police believe ran a red light. Mabon was among a group of Memphians attending an Episcopal ordination ceremony for a former Memphis Catholic priest.

John Baur, a University of Memphis music professor, was cited for driving while intoxicated. Mabon was a passenger in his car.

Mabon and another black vice president, Richard White, left the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority March 11 for reasons airport officials haven’t explained, citing confidentiality of personnel issues.

In the suit filed May 17 by the Donati law firm, Mabon accused Brockman of preferential treatment of white vice presidents.

Billy Ryan, an attorney with the Donati firm, said he couldn’t comment on the lawsuit’s status in the wake of Mabon’s death.

Brockman couldn’t be reached for comment.

Airport associate counsel Christy Kinard said, “Since this is a matter of pending litigation, the Airport Author-

ity has no comment about whether the complaint will proceed or the allegations contained therein.”

The lawsuit said Brockman “has a history of allowing white managers and executives, who had experienced serious employment issues, to remain employed and be allowed to continue to work until retirement.” It listed black managers who were “terminated immediately without retirement options.”

The lawsuit shed some light on the circumstances surrounding Mabon’s departure from the airport.

It said Brockman initially moved to immediately dismiss Mabon at the conclusion of an investigation into an unnamed female employee’s allegation of race and sex discrimination against Mabon.

The lawsuit said an investigation by an outside law firm, Ford Harrison, cleared Mabon of wrongdoing, but Brockman on March 10 dismissed Mabon “for failing to meet performance standards.”

When Mabon balked at signing a proposed severance agreement, Brockman backtracked and said Mabon’s employment agreement wouldn’t be renewed when it ran out June 30, the lawsuit asserts. Mabon remained on the payroll at nearly $16,000 a month.

In the Baton Rouge vehicle accident, Baur was at the wheel of a Mercedes C300 hit by another vehicle.

The Baton Rouge Police Department was investigating the accident. An affidavit said the other vehicle, a Nissan Maxima, “apparently” ran a red light and struck the right rear passenger door of Baur’s car as it was turning at an intersection.

Baur, who was also charged with reckless operation, was released on $3,000 bond.

The University of Memphis had no comment on Baur’s status.