LEGAL BRIEF: CALLED A NI_GER AND HAD A NOOSE TOSSED AROUND HIS NECK...SETTLED FOR ONE MILLION AND A TREE PLANTING!

EEOC v. Commercial Coating Services, Inc. No. H-03-3984 (S.D. Tex. March 21, 2006)

This is a case where a Black Texas sandblaster (on an oil rig) was harassed because of his race. He was the sole African American on his crew. His supervisors and coworkers routinely made racial slurs and called him the n-word. He complained and demanded to be called by his first name, but nothing was done to correct/stop the abuse. He requested a transfer, but it was delayed—while other transfers were quickly processed.

A coworker made a noose out of heavy rope and threw it around the Black worker’s neck as he entered a restroom. The noose tightened on the Black man’s neck, as they scuffled. The supervisor broke up the fight and called it “horse play.” When nothing was done to stop the abuse, the Black worker resigned and filed a complaint with EEOC.

He will receive $1,000,000 and an apology from the President/CEO of the company. The company must also plant or designate an exisitng tree in honor of the Black employee’s service to the company.

Question from blogger: How long before they hang a noose from that tree—maybe with a Black person swinging from it? If the company picks an existing tree to name after the Black worker, it will probably be the one suffering from root rot or it will be intentionally infested with termites, so the tree can be torn down.

Source: http://www.eeoc.gov/litigation/settlements/settlement03-06.html