A Michigan man has filed a lawsuit against his employer, alleging systemic discrimination and retaliation based on race, gender, and age. On November 9, 2025, James Spilko lodged a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against Comerica Management Co., Inc., and Comerica Incorporated. The case accuses the defendants of violating several civil rights laws by implementing policies that favor non-white males over white males in employment decisions.
James Spilko, who has been employed by Comerica since 2012 as a Change Delivery Manager, claims that despite his exemplary performance record, he has been denied over thirty promotions since 2018 due to Comerica’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. These policies allegedly prioritize hiring and promoting women and minority candidates to reflect the demographics of their markets. Spilko argues that this practice constitutes discrimination against white males like himself. He states that these DEI goals are enforced through management compensation tied to diversity quotas and discriminatory hiring practices.
The complaint details how Spilko’s career progression was hindered by what he describes as a systematic bias within Comerica’s corporate structure. According to the filing, CEO Curtis C. Farmer supervised the creation of these DEI policies that resulted in Spilko being overlooked for promotions in favor of less qualified “diverse” candidates. The lawsuit alleges that management was financially incentivized to meet diversity quotas at the expense of merit-based advancement opportunities for white male employees.
Spilko is seeking economic damages for lost earnings and career opportunities, non-economic damages for emotional distress caused by alleged illegal actions, punitive damages, costs, interest, reasonable attorney fees under various U.S.C sections related to civil rights violations including 42 U.S.C § 1981 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 among others. He also requests equitable relief from the court to address what he views as ongoing discriminatory practices at Comerica.
Representing James Spilko is attorney James K. Fett from Fett & Fields P.C., based in Pinckney, Michigan. The case is presided over by Judge Linda V. Parker with Case ID: 2:25-cv-13565-LVP-APP.
Source: 225cv13565_James_Spilko_v_Comerica_Management_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
