Iowa Boss Told Black Employee ‘Cut Your Dreadlocks’ and Called Him ‘Monkey’ Before Firing, Lawsuit Says

A Black man who was dismissed from a storage solutions firm in Des Moines, Iowa in 2022 has secured a $205,000 verdict after a Polk County jury determined that the company and a manager subjected him to racial harassment and subsequently retaliated for reporting the toxic workplace. Devin Ellis began as a lead installer at Storage and Design Group in December 2021. During his interview, owner Ronald Patterson allegedly asked Ellis to cut his dreadlocks, a demand he repeated over nine months, claiming Ellis's hair appeared “unprofessional.” The lawsuit alleges Patterson made racially charged remarks about Black employees, yet was dismissive when Ellis addressed his discomfort. Following complaints to management about Patterson's conduct, Ellis was ultimately terminated just days after lodging a formal discrimination complaint. A jury recognized the relentless harassment Ellis faced, awarding him $205,300 for emotional distress and retaliatory firing. Ellis's legal counsel commended his bravery in confronting the systemic discrimination. (Photo: Storage and Design Group Facebook page)