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American Apparel pay ex employee $300k in race lawsuit

Man compensated after he is called the N-Word by supervisor
09/07/2011 02:43 PM

PAYOUT: An American Apparel store

CLOTHING COMPANY American Apparel has been forced to payout a $343,000 to an ex employee who was repeatedly called a ‘n***er’ by a store supervisor.

Christopher Renfro sued the retailer in 2008 after repeatedly being called the offensive term by supervisor, Sean Alonzo.

Although Alonzo admitted to using the word during a business trip with Renfro to renovate American Apparel stores in Tennessee, he claimed he was only singing the lyrics to a rap song.

It has been reported that Renfro was awarded $342,919.95 in damages, costs and attorney’s fees, after a judge ruled in his favor on Thursday (July 7).

In a statement American Apparel said: “American Apparel is committed to a discrimination free workplace and has a zero tolerance policy towards any acts of discrimination.”

They added: “Mr. Renfro's claim of racial discrimination is the first and only claim of racial discrimination made by the Company's 10,000+ employees.”

Posted on: 09/07/2011 02:43 PM

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AMERICAN APPAREL

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

How sweet it is, Renfro got justice. I am proud of him for pursuing the discrimination suit.
Alonzo must have lost his mind? Does he know it's the 21 century? I swear sometimes I think we are going backwards in time. How can I be shocked anymore, the odd, weird, bizarre and unbelievable stories just keep coming? Since he cost the company so much money with the lawsuit, I hope Alonzo was sacked.

Alonzo sure picked on one calm black man to intimidate. With some N****R as he calls it, he would be laid up in a hospital or morgue somewhere.

Wed, 2011-07-27 12:25

American Apparel

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

I assume Sean Alonzo is no longer employed by the company. The
N word is NEVER acceptable, its 2011 now.

Sat, 2011-07-09 19:54