Mercedes-Benz sued for discrimination, overcharging African American customers

https://www.wthr.com/article/mercedes-benz-sued-discrimination-overcharging-african-american-customers

PUBLISHED: OCT 9TH, 2019 - 1:28PM (EDT)UPDATED: OCT 11TH, 2019 - 3:36AM (EDT)

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WTHR) – A former sales manager at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Lafayette is now suing the business for racial discrimination.

The lawsuit against his former employer alleges he was "fired in retaliation for complaining about the owner’s repeated use of the N-word, including boasting about systematically overcharging African American customers for vehicles, referring to it as 'n***er scalping.'"

According to the attorney, their client immediately took offense and reported it to Mercedes-Benz of North America. However, after reporting the racial slurs, the complaint alleges he was fired for insubordination.

According to the lawsuit, Jeffrey Turner had been subjected to a hostile work environment because of his race.

"His race was a regular subject of unwelcome verbal harassment, being referred to as the 'favorite n***er.' He was also a target for anger over unrelated racial issues," the attorney states in a press release.

According to the firm representing Mike Raisor Buick GMC Cadillac Inc., Raisor acknowledged using a phrase with a racist term during a sales meeting. He claims the statement was only used once and it was not made in reference to Raisor's African American customers or employees.