A former Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. Kimberly Carson initiated the complaint on February 26, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against the City of Wilmington. The lawsuit highlights severe accusations of systemic racism within city operations and retaliatory actions that led to her termination.
Carson’s allegations are centered around her tenure with the City of Wilmington from May 20, 2024, until her dismissal on May 8, 2025. She claims that she was subjected to repeated acts of retaliation and discrimination by several city officials, including Tony Caudle (former City Manager), Meredith Everhart (City Attorney), Mary Vigue (Assistant City Manager), Clayton Roberts (HR Director), Adam Hall (HR: Talent and Development Manager), and Kim Sampson (HR: Assistant Director). According to Carson, these individuals were complicit in creating a racially hostile work environment that ultimately led to her wrongful termination.
The complaint details Carson’s experiences upon discovering what she describes as a culture of racial bias within the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) and other city departments. She alleges that African American employees were treated differently than their non-African American counterparts. Her efforts to address these issues reportedly resulted in retaliation from city officials. Carson states that after voicing concerns about biased investigations targeting African American employees like Chief Donnie Williams—the city’s first African American Chief of Police—she faced an unfounded investigation into her own conduct.
Carson’s lawsuit accuses the City of Wilmington of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race. She also cites violations under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and specific sections of the North Carolina Constitution. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 for lost wages, emotional distress, reputational harm, and attorney fees.
Representing Carson is Shipman Wright & Moore L.L.P., while details regarding legal representation for the City have not been disclosed in this document. The case is identified under Case No. 7:26-cv-00038-FL.
Source: 726cv00038_Carson_v_City_of_Wilmington_Complaint_Eastern_District_North_Carolina.pdf
