Tesla trial over discrimination case to begin in California — TimesLIVE
A hearing on a lawsuit brought by the California Civil Rights Department against Tesla is set to begin in the California Superior Court in Oakland. The agency accuses the electric vehicle manufacturer of allowing widespread racial discrimination against employees at its assembly plant in Fremont, TimesLIVE reports.
Allegations concerning the Fremont plant
The lawsuit was filed in 2022. According to the department, Black employees at the plant were subjected to constant insults and harassment by other staff members, including racist remarks and graffiti. The agency also states that Tesla failed to take appropriate measures to prevent or stop such conduct.
In addition, the lawsuit states that Black employees were allegedly paid less than other staff members and had limited opportunities for career advancement. The department's claims also include an allegation of racial segregation of jobs: according to the plaintiff, Black employees were assigned to the lowest-paid and least desirable positions.
Trial without a jury
The case will be heard without a jury by California Superior Court Judge Peter Borkon. Hearings are scheduled through October 30, and the judge alone will determine whether Tesla violated California civil rights laws.
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Tesla denied any wrongdoing. The company said it does not tolerate discrimination and had dismissed employees found guilty of improper conduct. Tesla and its lawyers did not respond to requests for comment on the upcoming trial.
Unlike federal law, California legislation does not set a cap on compensation in workplace discrimination cases. If Tesla loses, it could face payments amounting to many millions of dollars. The company is also a defendant in a lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in dozens of individual employee lawsuits containing similar allegations.
Last year, in another case, Borkon ruled that more than 6,000 Black employees could not bring a class-action lawsuit against Tesla. At the same time, the company settled some individual cases, including a lawsuit by a former elevator operator at the Fremont plant, to whom a jury awarded $137 million; a judge later substantially reduced that amount.
