Tesla ordered to pay over $130 million to ex-employee over racist treatment

A US District Court in northern California ordered Tesla Inc to pay over $130 million (€112 million) in damages to a Black former employee, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal.

Owen Diaz had sued the vehicle manufacturer over the racial abuse he allegedly endured while employed as an elevator operator at the Tesla plant in Fremont, near San Francisco.

Diaz had worked a the factory during 2015 and 2016 and said he had been subject to racist slurs and offensive graffiti during that time.

A federal jury decided that Tesla had failed to take adequate measures to prevent Diaz from being racially abused, according to the report.

Racial discrimination lawsuits

The ruling comes as Tesla faces other racial discrimination complaints. Tesla has previously denied any knowledge of the alleged racist conduct at the plant, which has about 10,000 workers.

Earlier this year, the company had to pay $1 million to a Black former employee at the Fremont plant who said he had been called the "N-word" by supervisors. That case was settled by arbitration.

According to the company's diversity, equity and inclusion impact report from 2020, Black people made up 10% of the total work force, while only 4% could be found in leadership positions at American operations.

Its not yet clear whether Tesla will appeal the court's decision.