Ex-Suffolk DPW employee Julio Germain files federal discrimination lawsuit against the county, court records show

A former Suffolk County Department of Public Works employee was physically assaulted by a supervisor, subjected to crude racial slurs from colleagues and denied promotions because he is Black and Latino, according to a discrimination lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Central Islip.

The lawsuit filed by Julio Germain, a Suffolk resident, said he was subjected to continuous ridicule and intimidation during the five years he worked for the Department of Public Works, the lawsuit said. Germain quit the job in August 2024.

"Plaintiff’s employer assaulted him, engaged in a continuous pattern of using racial slurs and epithets," the court papers said.

Germain lodged multiple complaints about the alleged discrimination he faced with Suffolk officials but no steps were taken to fix what the lawsuit calls a hostile work environment, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint asks the court to order the Department of Public Works to end the discriminatory practices, and implement court-ordered programs to prevent further problems. It also seeks appointment of a monitor to ensure changes are made — and a written apology for the harassment and abuse Germain allegedly suffered. It also seeks unspecified damages, attorneys fees and other compensation.

The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of New York, names Suffolk County as the defendant. Michael Martino, a spokesman for County Executive Edward P. Romaine, declined to comment on the allegations, saying officials cannot discuss pending litigation.

Representatives of the Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees, the union that represents Department of Public Works employees, did not respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, said Germain’s supervisor, Doug Buddenhagen, punched Germain in the back of the head with a closed fist in January 2022 without provocation.

Germain filed a report with police, the lawsuit said. Natalie Donaldson, Germain’s attorney, did not respond to an email asking if police investigated the incident or if any arrests were made.

Buddenhagen also instructed DPW employees to keep their distance from Germain, telling them Germain was a racist and that associating with him would not be good for their careers. Those who followed Buddenhagen’s instructions were "rewarded," the lawsuit said, with at least one person receiving a promotion.

It is not immediately clear if Buddenhagen is represented by an attorney.

According to the lawsuit, Germain was subjected to regular racial harassment and soon joined the DPW’s highway division in November 2019. One supervisor shouted a racial expression whenever he saw Germain, causing other employees to laugh and raise their fists.

That supervisor also walked into a break room where Germain and 14 other employees were ending their shifts in March 2022 and played an episode of South Park in which the characters used a racial epithet at least three times, the complaint said. The room erupted in laughter except for Germain and another Black DPW worker.

Germain was passed over three times for promotions that went to colleagues with less experience and expertise, the lawsuit said. It also alleges that DPW officials placed a camera inside an air conditioning unit in the room where he worked to spy on him. They also had Department of Public Works employees follow him home and take photos of his residence.

"SCDPW monitored Mr. Germain’s every movement by having him followed after work," the complaint said.