Noble Metal Processing, Inc., a Warren, Mich., automotive
supplier, has agreed to pay $190,000 to settle a race discrimination
and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
According to the EEOC’s suit (Case No.2:08-CV-14713), filed in U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Noble repeatedly
overlooked qualified non-white employees, including a group of black
employees and a Bangladeshi employee, for promotions to the maintenance
department. In addition, a white employee who opposed this type of race
discrimination and complained that managers in the maintenance
department were using racial slurs was fired shortly after the company
learned of his complaints.
Race discrimination and retaliation violate Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach
a voluntary settlement out of court through its conciliation process.
After the EEOC’s lawsuit was filed, Noble, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Noble International, filed for bankruptcy and closed the plant where
these employees worked. Despite its bankruptcy, Noble made efforts to
resolve this case.
“Noble should be commended for reaching a resolution despite its
financial difficulties,” said Nedra Campbell, an EEOC attorney in the
Commission’s Detroit office. Under the parties’ agreement, seven
employees will share in the lump sum settlement amount of $190,000.