LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee at a Lincoln pharmaceutical plant.

Joel Padin was a former director of operations at the Novartis plant in Lincoln.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard on Wednesday granted Novartis Consumer Health Inc.’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit in which Padin accused the company of discrimination, creating a hostile work environment and retaliation.

The judge said in his order that Padin, who is of Puerto Rican heritage, failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove his claims.

Padin alleges that a site controller relayed employee complaints about him speaking Spanish, and also asked him why he was hiring so many Puerto Ricans. Novartis denied the allegation.