WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) —  A civil lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court is putting the Michigan Department of State’s internal employment practices under scrutiny.

Filed Jan. 12 in Wayne County Circuit Court, the suit brought by four current and former employees of the Michigan Department of State all allege they were treated differently because of their race while working under Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s administration.

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According to the complaint, Black employees were more frequently investigated, disciplined, or sidelined for promotion, while performance standards were applied unevenly across the department. The plaintiffs include current employees David Murray, Elvine Vanbolden, and Mychael Foster, as well as former department official Nirva Civilus.

“Defendants have no effective system in place to track, correct or prevent this unlawful discriminatory conduct,” the complaint said. 

The filing also includes sworn statements from former Assistant Secretary of State Heaster Wheeler, who is not a plaintiff but said unclear internal policies created room for biased decision-making and factored into his decision to leave the department.

The case arrives less than two years after the state paid a $775,000 separation agreement to another employee following similar claims.

Benson’s office rejected the allegations, calling them “absolutely false,” and said department policies are clear, enforced uniformly, and leave no tolerance for discrimination or retaliation.

No court has ruled on the claims, which remain allegations.