Michigan worker sues WillScot and staffing firm over alleged racial and sexual harassment

Juanita Porter, a resident of Southfield, has initiated legal action against WillScot and Ultimate LLC, alleging that she endured a pattern of racial discrimination and sexual harassment across two Michigan work sites. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on November 5, seeks damages, attorney fees, and a jury trial.

Porter states that the alleged misconduct began during her first week at a WillScot construction site in Brighton. According to court documents prepared by her attorneys at Runyan Law Group, a trainer made a racist joke during her orientation. In July 2025, a supervisor referenced lynching, and in August, a coworker refused to train her while calling her a "black b*tch" and threatening to have her fired.

The plaintiff describes the environment as changing drastically after she accepted the position. "When I got the job, I was so happy. But it didn't last," Porter said.

In October, Porter alleges that a photograph of a gorilla was posted on the workplace bulletin board. She filed a complaint, but the image remained displayed for weeks. When the photo was eventually removed to make space for open enrollment paperwork, Porter said she discovered it pinned inside her personal locker.

"And it was still there, even after I complained about it. It had stayed up there for another week," Porter stated in the filing.

Porter claims she escalated the issue to the general manager in November. She says the manager responded by asking if the gorilla picture had her name on it. "It was like going into 1950. Once I got behind them gates, it was like going in a time warp," Porter said. Days after this conversation, she was moved to work outside alone and subsequently transferred to a WillScot location in Warren.

At the Warren site, Porter alleges that a new supervisor sexually harassed her repeatedly. She claims the supervisor physically touched her on three separate occasions, including touching her breasts while claiming he had made a mistake. Porter says a manager acknowledged knowing about the supervisor's behavior but did not intervene.

Porter was terminated in September 2026 for allegedly using her phone during a medical appointment on the job. She maintains she had permission to use the device. "No matter what I did, it was not enough. I couldn't stop the racism or the harassment," she said.

Attorney Zachary Runyan of Runyan Law Group argues that the incidents at two separate facilities indicate a systemic problem. "To think that this is still going on today over two different facilities, to me, that signifies this isn't a personnel problem. This is a company-wide issue," Runyan said.

Porter stated that she hopes the lawsuit will force the companies to implement diversity training and overhaul their processes. The lawsuit accuses WillScot and Ultimate LLC of violating Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and federal Title VII. Local 4 News has contacted WillScot for comment and is awaiting a response.