Suit: 7-Eleven owner fired manager for hiring practices

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A former manager of a Eugene 7-Eleven has filed a lawsuit against the franchise owner and the corporation, claiming unfair employment practices.

The Register-Guard reports Brennen Jensen filed suit earlier this month in Lane County Circuit Court against 7-Eleven and Don Scarpelli , the franchise owner. The lawsuit seeks $175,000.

Jensen claims he was fired in 2017 after four years because he hired a black person and a transgender person against his store owner’s wishes.

The suit says Jensen hired a transgender woman and that Scarpelli told Jensen the employee was not to wear female clothing or makeup.

The lawsuit says when Jensen told Scarpelli his later warnings to the woman were a violation of the employee’s civil rights, Scarpelli became ” cold and hostile ” toward Jensen until he was fired the following month.

A message for comment to 7-Eleven was not returned.