Salesman Prejudice

Canton, OH: (Apr-23-08) The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought charges against Mullinax Ford in North Canton, alleging that the car dealer discriminated and harassed its employees on the basis of their race. The charges were brought on behalf of Avery Williams, a black employee and former used-car salesman who claimed that he was racially harassed and retaliated against. The suit stated that managers made racist comments about black customers and used offensive racial slurs at staff meetings. It alleged that after the complaint was filed with the federal agency, managers unfairly disciplined Williams and denied him sales commissions, forcing him to resign. The commission's lawsuit named Mullinax and its parent company as defendants.

As part of a settlement reached in the case, sources stated that the company agreed to pay Williams more than $94,000 for alleged damages and lost wages. Apart from the payout to Williams, his legal counsel will get another $50,593. Mullinax will also pay $5,000 to another black former employee who said managers placed a monkey around his neck during a sales meeting. The settlement, which remains in effect for five years, is not an admission by Mullinax to any wrongdoing, but a bid to avoid further costs associated with prolonged litigation. [CANTON REPOSITORY: CAR DEALER SETTLES HARASSMENT SUIT]

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Published on Apr-25-08