My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Washington DC
I was at my previous employer for a little over a year and a half before leaving. The company was an indian owned and operated company, I would guess that close to 90% of their employees were Indian. For the record, I am 25 years old and white. During the time with my previous employer, they paid for me to attend a training couerse,which cost $3,000. When I signed up for the course, I signed a document indicating that I would pay the company back for the course if I left within a year. I sent this document to the project director many times which he requested, as he is very unorganized.A coworker of mine attended the course with me under the same conditions.
I ended up leaving the company within the year. The project director conducted the exit interview, and it was obvious that he had lost the document that I signed stating I that I would pay for the course. However, I am not the kind of person to burn bridges, so I agreed to have the amount taken out of my final paycheck and vacation that was owed to me. I ended up not receiving a final paycheck or any vacation reimbursement after they took out the cost of the course and made me pay a pro rated amount for my bonus.
I ended up getting my coworker that attended the training course with me a job with my current employer. My coworker is a 25 year old Indian. As stated, the coworker agreed to the same terms as I did to attend the course. However, the company did not make him pay the $3,000 back to them, even though it was still within the year that was stated on the document we signed. The project director did not mention the training at all during his exit interview (according to my coworker).
I believe that this could potentially be a case of discrimination, as they favor the Indian employees, and did not enforce the policy to make him pay for the course. I am wondering if this is a legitimate discrimination case or not, and if I should be eligible to receive my $3,000 back?

