Black employees of the U.S. Marshals Service filed a racial discrimination lawsuit Wednesday, saying they have been denied promotions by managers who belittled them as lazy.

The suit in U.S. District Court seeks broad changes in job practices at a law enforcement agency that has grappled with race bias accusations dating back to the 1990s. It cast the agency as a "good old boys network" that exploited loopholes to groom whites for leadership positions while reprimanding blacks for "trivial mistakes."

Seeking to sue on behalf of 200 current or former black employees, the challenge alleges violations of federal civil rights laws. The suit is asking for damages of at least $300 million for lost back pay and harm suffered in a "hostile work environment."

The allegations also come as black agents at the Secret Service, which protects presidents, their family members and other dignitaries, are making similar charges of denied promotions because of their race. That 2000 suit in federal court claims white colleagues and supervisors regularly use a racial epithet to refer to criminal suspects and black leaders of other countries.

"This is the way the agency treats African-American deputies all over the country," said deputy marshal David Grogan, a 20-year employee. "If you're an African American doing a good job, they're going to find some loophole or exception to keep you from getting ahead."

Suing in the case are Grogan of Bowie, Md., and chief deputy marshal James Brooks, of Brandywine, Md. Their complaint charges the Marshals Service:

_Systematically denied special assignments and training to blacks despite their seniority and qualifications.

_Canceled vacant higher-ranking job positions when white applicants didn't qualify under the agency's merit ranking system.

_Failed to provide timely notice of job openings to many black employees.

The Marshals Service, a division of the Justice Department, has 4,700 employees and is responsible for apprehending fugitives and protecting federal judges.

Jeff Carter, an agency spokesman, said, "These allegations do not reflect the culture of this agency or the high standards to which we hold our employees." Continued...