CEO Watch
NASCAR Officials Targeted in Suit
Jun 17, 2008
Two NASCAR officials named in a $225 million sexual harassment and racial discrimination lawsuit have been placed on administrative leave.
NASCAR's administrative move comes after Mauricia Grant, who filed suit last week, alleged 23 incidents of sexual harassment and 34 cases of racial discrimination.
Grant claimed sexual and racial discrimination is an ingrained aspect of NASCAR culture, according to the Kansas City Star.
NASCAR chairman Brian France had not directly addressed Grant's claim but questioned why she never made a formal complaint or followed NASCAR policy in reporting harassment.
"The fact that it went on as she stated, Ms. Grant, for many months, but never bothered to tell anyone at management what was going on - which is what our policy says - is very disappointing," France told reporters, according to the Star.
Grant claims a high-level NASCAR executive but kept from telling human resources because she had been reprimanded by the department for complaining about a similar incident in the past.
In her lawsuit, according to the Associated Press, male workers made sexual advances, and two of them allegedly exposed themselves to her. Grant also says she was called a "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba."
Benedict Morelli, Grant's lawyer, said NASCAR's moved to place two workers on leave, but with pay, was too little too late.
"It seems to me that maybe they should close the barn door before the horse runs out, instead of after the horse runs out," Morelli told AP. "This is what you do when you are in a defensive posture. They should have known this was going on."
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