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A federal lawsuit, alleging that a former general manager at a Northern California Toyota dealership discriminated against many Afghan American workers, has been settled in the plaintiff's favor. Are you currently looking to purchase or sell a new or used truck? If this portrays you, do yourself a favor and take a look at Gus Johnson Ford.

Paying out $400,000

Last week, according to Atlanta, Toyota dealership agreed to pay $400,000 in settlement.

Threats and racial slurs

A previous general manager at Fremont Toyota was intimidating four Afghan-American sellers during a 2007 board meeting saying they were terrorists and intimidating with a grenade. That is where the lawsuit comes from.

It is not okay to harass based on nationality. In fact, it is against the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Mohammad Sawary was one of those employees, and he remarked that it is ironic how loyal he was:

"The irony of this matter is that, after being labeled ‘terrorists’ at our old job, most of us found work with the U.S. military serving in Afghanistan protecting U.S. soldiers from the terrorists."

Former workers

The sellers explained that they wound up with more job scrutiny due to the abuse and harassment that was reported. Eventually, they quit their careers and went someplace else.

There was one Afghan American manager who got fired after complaining about the salesmen treatment.

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A lawsuit for employees

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit on behalf of the previous employees. The EEOC is a federal watchdog for employment discrimination.

EEOC San Francisco Regional Lawyer William R. Tamayo said:

"We hope this case clearly signals that the civil rights laws of this country protect everyone from illegal discrimination, regardless of their national origin.”

According to San Francisco's EEOC District Director Michael Baldonado, the largest Afghan population outside of Afghanistan is in California's Bay Area.

He pointed out:

“We hope this settlement makes more people in the Afghan community aware of their rights and how the EEOC can protect them as we continue our outreach to under-served communities.”

The bureau explained that workers and managers have to be educated on discrimination as part of the suit settlement.

The one who accused the salesmen and made the offensive comments did not have to deal with the lawsuit; it was just for the dealership of cars and vehicle loans. It is confusing that the manager was not sued also. The current Fremont Toyota manager and lawyers did not comment.


Sources

CBS Atlanta
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Union City Patch