The drugmaker is facing lawsuits from seven current and former employees at its Pearl River, NY, facility, who allege they suffered discrimination because they’re African-American. And in the first case to go to trial, former chemist and production enginner Howard Henry charges Wyeth denied him promotions and placed him on a performance-improvement plan because of his race, The Journal-News reports.

In his opening statement, Henry’s lawyer, Steve Morelli, says the former chemist “was a black man who had the unmitigated gall to dream he would be judged on the merits of his performance, not on the color of his skin.” Henry, 39, left Wyeth in 2005 and is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

The trial before US District Court Judge William Conner in White Plains is expected to last about two weeks. The decision as to whether Wyeth discriminated against Henry will be made by a jury of five women and three men. The lone black on the jury of five women and three men is an African-Amerian, who has been named the foreperson.

Michael Delikat, Wyeth’s lawyer, told the jury that Henry was a solid but not spectacular employee and this was reflected in the performance reviews and that promotions were based on merit, not on Henry’s race. You can read the rest here.