Tesla has reached confidential settlements with three of the five named plaintiffs in a long-running lawsuit alleging racial discrimination at its Fremont factory. Hundreds of other Black workers and California's civil rights agency continue their cases against the company.
The settlements involve Marcus Vaughn, who filed the original 2017 complaint, along with Titus McCaleb and Monica Chatman. A court filing on June 3 disclosed the agreements, and an Alameda County Superior Court judge has scheduled a September 11 hearing to finalize them. Garret Parker and Chanel Hendrix remain in the case.
Up to 580 additional Black workers are still pursuing claims over conditions at the plant. California's Civil Rights Department is also advancing its separate lawsuit to trial after the court denied Tesla's motion for summary judgment on May 27. That case had been calendared for July 20 in Oakland.
The lawsuits describe alleged harassment including racial slurs, graffiti, and segregated work areas, claims that Tesla disputes. The company has submitted declarations from employees who reported seeing no such issues. The state agency alleges inadequate human resources staffing and pay disparities between Black and white workers.
