NASCAR Settles $225M Harassment Suit

Black Technical Worker Mauricia Grant Awarded Undisclosed Sum In Racial, Sexual Bias Case

(AP)  NASCAR has settled a $225 million lawsuit filed by a former official who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her two-plus years working for the stock-car organization.

The suit was settled during a Dec. 3 mediation held in New York between Mauricia Grant and NASCAR. Settlement terms were confidential. Neither side admitted liability or wrongdoing, according to NASCAR.

"We're glad to have the case settled on mutually acceptable terms," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. "NASCAR remains dedicated to maintaining a professional work environment for all employees at all times, and we wish Ms. Grant well in her future endeavors."

Grant's attorney, Benedict P. Morelli of New York-based Morelli Ratner PC, did not immediately return a call from the AP for comment.

Grant, who is black, worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series from January 2005 until her October 2007 termination. In the lawsuit filed in June in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Grant alleged 23 specific incidents of alleged sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of alleged racial and gender discrimination during her employment.

Among Grant's claims, she said she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba," by co-workers, was often told she worked on "colored people time," and was frightened by one official who routinely made Ku Klux Klan references.

Grant also said she was subjected to sexual advances from male co-workers, two of whom allegedly exposed themselves to her, and graphic and lewd jokes.

NASCAR investigated her claims and ultimately fired Tim Knox and Bud Moore, the two officials accused in the lawsuit of exposing themselves. NASCAR has declined to discuss the reasons for their dismissal. A third official, David Duke, was fired in April for reasons NASCAR said were unrelated to the suit.

NASCAR chairman Brian France vigorously defended his family business after Grant filed suit, saying she never complained to her supervisors about any of the actions she claimed after her firing.

She denied France's account, saying she followed the chain of command but stopped short of taking it to human resources when series director Joe Balash failed to address her concerns.

Grant said that two weeks after her complaint to Balash, she received a call from the human resources director reprimanding her for her behavior. She said she was fired shortly after.

In NASCAR's response to the suit, the sanctioning body claimed Grant acknowledged an understanding of NASCAR's "zero tolerance policy against discrimination and harassment in the workplace," attended mandatory training seminars on the topics in 2006 and 2007 and acknowledged her obligation to immediately report any offensive acts in accordance with written policies.

Grant claimed she ultimately was fired for that complaint to Balash. But in NASCAR's response, it claims Grant was reprimanded with a warning of termination for an altercation with a track security guard at Michigan International Speedway who had asked to see Grant's credentials as she passed through a gate.

NASCAR officials have refused to disclose why Grant was fired. But the response claimed a pattern of tardiness for which she was routinely reprimanded.

Mike Wilford, one official named in the suit, previously told The Associated Press that Grant never once complained about how she was treated in time the two spent together away from the track. Wilford also said she was a willing participant in graphic and lewd jokes and has "twisted" events to benefit her suit.

[karenlewis3]

This is a hillbilly suite www.theseriouspolice.com

[jsd330]

hitoyu11 whats the matter, everybody ignoring you today?

[endurorob]

The headline says it was a $225 million suit. They settled abut did not disclose the settlement. Very doubtfull she got anything near $225 milion.

[hitoyou11]

NASCAR must be in bed with the UAW. Both are SCUM. Both LIE and both are looking for some one else to pay there bills.

[louiville2]

Gee, maybe I''''ll sue the NBA for not allowing me to play, as I''''m a 58 year old 6'''' white male. (JUST JOKING!)

Posted by Speakinup21

UMMMMM you can''t because you''re not part of a "Protected Group"! I know, even if they are racially biased against whites, will not hire whites, and have no white players getting 10''s of millions of dollars just to promote $5.00 snickers for $200. You can''t sue it''s the law.

The french did a study and found in the whole world the most abused race in the world are whites.

Just look at Zimbabwe and South Africa where white minorities are daily beaten, robbed and killed. No outcry from the press/governments.

[shanev137]

but let''''s not debase the the fact that crimes were committed here.


--------------


DUDE...."THE CRIME" IS THAT SHE''S GETTING $225,000,000.00 FOR GETTING HER FEELINGS HURT.

THIS WHOLE THING IS A COMPLETE JOKE AND AIN''T EVEN WORTH DISCUSSING.

[shanev137]

they payout less for accidental death

----------

Exactly.

Dennis Quaid only got 750K for both his kids almost being killed by the wrong dose of drug. And they still don''t know if those kids will have long term mental/physical damage.

This $225 million is a God *** joke.

[shanev137]

Where can I sign up to get harassed for $225 million dollars?

I''ll even cry and pretend my wittle feewings are hurt.

[louiville2]

if the chic that sued the knicks got paid on just sexual abuse allegations and mistreatment. imagine a black chic sueing a company full of honkys. lol

Posted by thefan08

AHHH your racist bigotry has come out another and you are showing your ignorance and immaturity.

"by your comments you sound stupid. "rednecks"," black chic", "honkys" " back atch yea ;)

Tell me what company will hire someone like her who "ever complained to her supervisors about any of the actions she claimed after her firing", Grant was reprimanded with a warning of termination for an altercation with a track security guard at Michigan, "a pattern of tardiness for which she was routinely reprimanded", "she was a willing participant in graphic and lewd jokes and has "twisted" events to benefit her suit".

Would you hire someone like that (useless, lazy, a threat to others)? Then when you fire them they play the race card and file $250 million suits which is obviously extortion?

She''s then one who retaliated. I hope the Security Guard sues her.



Remember in court it''s her responsibility to prove her case, Her only witnesses are those who she claims did those things and they were fired as soon as it was known. If she was really oppressed then why not call HR. Why not because she knew she was a lazy good for nothing with a temper.

[credibility2]

The term "redneck" is also racially intolerant and a derogatory term. Those who use it should also be sued and put in their place. This person took advantage of her circumstances. I believe she''ll have to pay income taxes on this her settlement amount, minus what the lawyers'' fee plus all expenses.

[thefan08-2009]

AHAHA they payout less for accidental death then that, all she had was she was embarrassed, $500K is WAY overkill.

Not only that but I suspect thousands of minorities will not be hired because of it, and before you say they''''ll sue pleaase proof is on the plaintiff. In front of a jury who have been told there are WAY TO many lawsuits.

And with Obama in there will be even less sympathy for them.


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Posted by louiville2

by your comments you sound stupid. Nascar is to blame for hiring other rednecks like your uncles to run their company. if because of this, they dont wont to hire other qualified black people or minorties then nascar will go down faster than this economy did under Goerge Bush. just to let you know, in another 20 years or 30, whites will be the new minority, which means if this company wants to stay relevant, then they better start getting more minorities and also selling their products more to the new up and coming majority. And believe me, she got paid. if the chic that sued the knicks got paid on just sexual abuse allegations and mistreatment. imagine a black chic sueing a company full of honkys. lol

[southpaw651]

To Mcliar:
You obviously are a level headed person looks at both sides of the issue,and that''s something that is rare in today''s society. Bravo! You''re making good sense with your posts!

[louiville2]

If you honestly think that this will make NASCAR less likely to hire minorites you''''re seriously misguided.

NASCAR is all about expanding their fan base and, consequently, their revenue and advertising base.

Posted by Mcliar

Ummm learn to think outside the box, Like the whole country! Millions of large and small companies who really see this as it is, as extortion. Hire minorities, get sued when kindergarten poor pity me attitude kicks in.

[louiville2]

you must be high if you think she dropped the law suit for $500k. she had good claim, there were 3 employees fired. my mom is a lawyer and there is no more she would let her client settle for 500k when the original suit was 250 million and she had nascar by the balls. she got paid

Posted by thefan08

AHAHA they payout less for accidental death then that, all she had was she was embarrassed, $500K is WAY overkill.

Not only that but I suspect thousands of minorities will not be hired because of it, and before you say they''ll sue pleaase proof is on the plaintiff. In front of a jury who have been told there are WAY TO many lawsuits.

And with Obama in there will be even less sympathy for them.

[dewbug2]

hey,"YOU_FOOLS"..........my daughter is a lawyer,and she is not a crook.....she''s 29 years old and a movie star gorgeous blonde who went through 4 years of college and 3 years of law school,entirely without any financial help from me......she got grants and loans, and scholarships, of course, but never asked me for a penny....sorta makes an old dad proud....I helped her with a little cash and old car repairs when she was in undergrad school, but that''s the extent of it....normal family things like food, clothes and a house for her and my other kids and wife of course, but that''s only the right and normal thing to do.
but yes, you are very accurate when you say the crooked ones keep getting elected and re-elected to public office....the most obvious example of that is fat butt Teddy drunken slob swimming coach .....those idiots in Taxachusetts keep *** them selves (and us)by keeping that lowlofe in office.they''re not all crooks,but ONE anti American liberal jerk like that makes it SEEM like they''re all crooks.Meanwhile,
good luck and keep on hammering these idiots.....hopefully someone will wake up in this country while we still have it.

[mswolfestock]

It''s likely that the lawyers got most of the settlement.

Shame on NASCAR. They need to get out of the 19th century. But then I''m not too hopeful that their attitude will change towards women and/or minorities. They''re just a bunch of dumb-a*s*s white guys, propping up the messed-up American automotive industry. They probably voted for John McCain.

[thefan08-2009]

ts sad to read some comments of some white people on here, but the bottom line is, she is rich now thanks to the settlement and thats nascar way of saying we accepted we were wrong. so to people on here callin her names, well guess what, she is rich and you are not. lol now thats poetic justice. like dave chapel says, shs is probably saying, i am rich Bit*hes

Posted by thefan08

Odds on she got less then $500K, the $250M was a stunt to draw media attention. More media more money.

you must be high if you think she dropped the law suit for $500k. she had good claim, there were 3 employees fired. my mom is a lawyer and there is no more she would let her client settle for 500k when the original suit was 250 million and she had nascar by the balls. she got paid

[louiville2]

ts sad to read some comments of some white people on here, but the bottom line is, she is rich now thanks to the settlement and thats nascar way of saying we accepted we were wrong. so to people on here callin her names, well guess what, she is rich and you are not. lol now thats poetic justice. like dave chapel says, shs is probably saying, i am rich Bit*hes

Posted by thefan08

Odds on she got less then $500K, the $250M was a stunt to draw media attention. More media more money.

[blindersoff]

225 million is what she sued for, they settled for an undisclosed amount, she didn''t get that. They would never have settled if this had not been true. They two guys that exposed themselves and was fired are idiots who ruined their careers because they insisted on being dumb rednecks. Bill France can''t deny Nascar can be a good ole boy environment. I blame the cowards standing around watching these guys harass her and maybe laughing along.

[sanfelz]

The suit was for $225 million but the settlement was certainly for much less. Even so, NASCAR might give thought to promoting a better image.