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Tesla Secures Win in Racial Discrimination Class Action Case Involving 6,000+ Workers

MarketDash Editorial Team
20 days ago
A California judge reversed class certification in a 2017 lawsuit alleging racial harassment at Tesla's Fremont plant, ruling that over 6,000 workers cannot proceed as a unified class after many potential witnesses proved unwilling to testify.

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) just caught a significant legal break. A California state judge has reversed the class action certification of a 2017 lawsuit filed by African American workers alleging racial harassment at the company's Fremont, California assembly plant. The decision means more than 6,000 workers can no longer sue collectively as a unified class.

Why the Class Action Fell Apart

Here's where things got complicated. According to Reuters reporting on Monday, approximately 200 workers had been selected to testify at a trial scheduled for next year. But when push came to shove, many of those workers simply weren't willing to take the stand.

The judge concluded that the experiences of this smaller, willing group couldn't reasonably represent the entire class of 6,000-plus workers. That finding directly contradicted a 2024 decision that had certified the lawsuit as a class action in the first place.

Lawrence Organ, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, offered context for why so many workers backed away from testifying. Most of those randomly selected were low-income employees who simply couldn't afford to miss work. It's a cruel irony—workers who allegedly faced discrimination now can't pursue their claims because they can't take time off from the very employer they're accusing.

The allegations themselves are serious. Workers claim they experienced racial harassment including targeted slurs, racist graffiti throughout the facility, and even nooses hung at their workstations—workplace conditions that, if proven, would represent egregious civil rights violations.

Tesla's Growing Legal Portfolio

This victory comes as Tesla juggles several other legal challenges. The company faces another proposed class action accusing it of favoring foreign visa holders over U.S. citizens in employment decisions, allegedly allowing Tesla to suppress wages across its workforce.

On a different front, Tesla recently lost a bid to dismiss a class action lawsuit claiming the company misled customers about the capabilities of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

And in a separate battle entirely, Tesla has sued the North Dakota Department of Transportation after the state refused to let the company open showrooms in Fargo and Bismarck. North Dakota law prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles directly to customers—a regulatory framework that clashes with Tesla's entire business model.

Price Action: TSLA shares jumped 0.30% to $410.13 during after-hours trading Monday, following a 1.13% gain to $408.92 during the regular session.

Back to News

Tesla Secures Win in Racial Discrimination Class Action Case Involving 6,000+ Workers

MarketDash Editorial Team
20 days ago
A California judge reversed class certification in a 2017 lawsuit alleging racial harassment at Tesla's Fremont plant, ruling that over 6,000 workers cannot proceed as a unified class after many potential witnesses proved unwilling to testify.

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) just caught a significant legal break. A California state judge has reversed the class action certification of a 2017 lawsuit filed by African American workers alleging racial harassment at the company's Fremont, California assembly plant. The decision means more than 6,000 workers can no longer sue collectively as a unified class.

Why the Class Action Fell Apart

Here's where things got complicated. According to Reuters reporting on Monday, approximately 200 workers had been selected to testify at a trial scheduled for next year. But when push came to shove, many of those workers simply weren't willing to take the stand.

The judge concluded that the experiences of this smaller, willing group couldn't reasonably represent the entire class of 6,000-plus workers. That finding directly contradicted a 2024 decision that had certified the lawsuit as a class action in the first place.

Lawrence Organ, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, offered context for why so many workers backed away from testifying. Most of those randomly selected were low-income employees who simply couldn't afford to miss work. It's a cruel irony—workers who allegedly faced discrimination now can't pursue their claims because they can't take time off from the very employer they're accusing.

The allegations themselves are serious. Workers claim they experienced racial harassment including targeted slurs, racist graffiti throughout the facility, and even nooses hung at their workstations—workplace conditions that, if proven, would represent egregious civil rights violations.

Tesla's Growing Legal Portfolio

This victory comes as Tesla juggles several other legal challenges. The company faces another proposed class action accusing it of favoring foreign visa holders over U.S. citizens in employment decisions, allegedly allowing Tesla to suppress wages across its workforce.

On a different front, Tesla recently lost a bid to dismiss a class action lawsuit claiming the company misled customers about the capabilities of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

And in a separate battle entirely, Tesla has sued the North Dakota Department of Transportation after the state refused to let the company open showrooms in Fargo and Bismarck. North Dakota law prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles directly to customers—a regulatory framework that clashes with Tesla's entire business model.

Price Action: TSLA shares jumped 0.30% to $410.13 during after-hours trading Monday, following a 1.13% gain to $408.92 during the regular session.