TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- A closed juvenile center in Topeka has been sued for discrimination by nine former employees.

In the federal lawsuit, the former employees of Forbes Juvenile Attention Center allege that they were subjected to racially insensitive jokes, intimidation and disparities in job evaluations.

The nine employees are seeking $500,000 in damages.

Scott Henricks, an official with center's parent company said the company wouldn't comment because it didn't know about the lawsuit.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported last year that a 12-year-old resident alleged he was repeatedly raped because of insufficient staffing and room checks at the center. The company settled that lawsuit out of court in late November.

The center closed a few weeks after the story was reported.