Foley Products Company, a Columbus, Georgia based concrete products company recently settled a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The EEOC filed the lawsuit against Foley Products in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The EEOC charged that Foley failed to promote Fred Pharham, who is African-American, and then subsequently fired him, because of his race.  Pharham was the only black supervisor of a crew working at Foley’s Clanton, Alabama facility.  

The court issued a two-year consent decree finally resolving the suit in August. Pursuant to the decree, Foley agreed to implement new policies and practices designed to prevent further harassment, provide additional employee training on anti-discrimination laws and other injunctive relief.  Foley is enjoined from engaging in any further employment practice which has the purpose or effect of discriminating against anyone on the basis of race and from retaliating against employees for opposing discriminatory practices.  

This settlement signifies the increased scrutiny of discriminatory employment practices in Alabama.  If you feel you have been discriminated against in the workplace, please contact our firm at (205) 358-3100 for a free consultation.