California defeats Tesla's attempt to throw out racial discrimination lawsuit

A California Civil Rights Department lawsuit against Tesla over alleged racial discrimination will proceed to trial after a judge dismissed Tesla’s motion to throw out the case. The trial is scheduled for July 20. The lawsuit seeks financial damages and injunctive relief and alleges widespread discrimination, especially at the Fremont factory. The case may include claims dating back to June 2018. The judge partially limited claims under the statute of limitations, blocking incidents before June 18, 2018. The allegations include harassment, discrimination, and retaliation against Black employees, including pervasive racial slurs, segregation into labor-intensive roles, lower pay, and retaliation through harsh performance reviews, reprimands, and terminations.

"Over four years after a California agency sued Tesla over an alleged pattern of racial discrimination, a judge has dismissed Tesla's motion to throw out the lawsuit. The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) said today that the Alameda County Superior Court order clears a path for the case to go to trial, which is currently scheduled for July 20."

"Tesla "employment practices remain rooted in some of the ugliest relics of the past," CRD Director Kevin Kish said. "Black workers are paid less for their work. They are subjected to racist slurs. They face threats of being fired for speaking out... We look forward to having our day in court to hold Tesla accountable and to protect the rights of workers in our state.""

"The lawsuit alleges widespread discrimination, especially at Tesla's Fremont factory, and seeks financial damages and injunctive relief. At trial, the case may include claims of discrimination going back to June 2018. The judge partially granted Tesla's request to block claims under the statute of limitations, but only for incidents that happened before June 18, 2018."

"These allegations included the pervasive use of racial slurs, often in the presence of, or even by, supervisors and managers. The use of the n-word was allegedly especially pervasive at the Fremont factory, which Tesla workers, supervisors, and management alike referred to as the 'plantation,' with Black workers as 'slaves.'"

Read at Ars Technica