Tesla Suit Alleges Racism

FILE: The Tesla logo is seen on a car at Tesla Motors' new showroom in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in New York. Taken 12.14.2017.

Fifteen Black former or current employees at Tesla (TSLA.O) filed a lawsuit against the electric car maker on June 30, alleging they were subjected to racial abuse and harassment at its factories.

The Black workers said they were subjected to offensive racist comments and behavior by colleagues, managers, and human resources employees on a regular basis, according to the lawsuit filed in a California state court.

Some of the plaintiffs were assigned to the most physically demanding posts in Tesla or passed over for promotion, according to the lawsuit.

The legal action said that worker Montieco Justice, a production associate at Tesla's Fremont factory, was immediately demoted upon returning to Tesla after taking an authorized leave of absence as a result contracting COVID-19.

The automaker is facing at least 10 lawsuits alleging widespread race discrimination or sexual harassment, including one by a California civil rights agency.

On Monday, a federal judge in California ordered a new trial on the damages Tesla owes to a Black former factory worker who accused the company of race discrimination, after he turned down a $15 million award.

The electric vehicle maker previously has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment regarding the new suit filed against it.