In a striking lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York, a former employee of a luxury fashion brand alleges racial discrimination and retaliation by his employer. On February 2, 2026, Andell Hector lodged a complaint against 188 Tribeca, LLC, doing business as Nili Lotan, and Nili Lotan, Inc., accusing them of fostering a racially hostile work environment and retaliating against him for speaking out about discriminatory practices.
Andell Hector’s story unfolds with him joining Nili Lotan as a stock manager on October 6, 2021. Despite his extensive experience in luxury retail spanning over 17 years, Hector claims he faced systemic racial discrimination that stunted his career growth. While his white colleagues received promotions and raises—even those fresh out of college—Hector’s career stagnated without any advancement or salary increase throughout his tenure. In November 2024, after voicing concerns about this disparity to management, Hector was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), marking the first negative feedback in his otherwise stellar record. He completed the PIP successfully by February 18, 2025, only to be terminated on April 8, 2025. The stated reason was performance issues—ironically echoing the same performance previously praised by his manager.
The lawsuit details several incidents that contributed to what Hector describes as a racially hostile work environment. One notable episode involved a white coworker using the racial slur “nigger” twice in conversation with Hector in December 2024. Despite reporting this incident to management and being assured of an investigation, no action was taken against the offending employee. Furthermore, the company allegedly allowed other racially insensitive behavior to go unchecked, such as when a non-Black retail director found amusement in playing videos featuring racial slurs.
Hector’s legal action seeks redress for these grievances under multiple statutes including Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He is pursuing compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress alongside punitive damages for willful misconduct by the defendants. Additionally, he demands injunctive relief requiring Nili Lotan to implement anti-discrimination training and policies to prevent future occurrences.
Represented by attorneys Joseph Myers and Katlyn Palmatier from Mesidor PLLC based in Bellport, New York, Hector is determined to hold Nili Lotan accountable for what he views as clear violations of federal and state laws designed to protect employees from discrimination based on race. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:26-cv-00886 but awaits further developments as it progresses through the judicial system.
Source: 126cv00886_Andell_Hector_v_188_Tribeca_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
