Daimler headquarters
An Asian American man who claims he was a former employee of Daimler Trucks North America and Xtreme Consulting Group has filed a $250,000 lawsuit claiming discrimination. Daimler's corporate offices are at 4747 N. Channel Ave. in Portland.
(Mark Graves/The Oregonian)
A 40-year-old Asian American man filed a $250,000 lawsuit on Tuesday against former employers Daimler Trucks North America and Xtreme Consulting Group, claiming he was forced to share a cubicle with another minority worker and that a co-worker blabbed to others that he was gay.
Ricky Pang's lawsuit alleges a series of mistreatment because of his race and age. It is the latest in a line of Portland-area lawsuits accusing Daimler -- a German company with U.S. headquarters in North Portland -- of racially hostile work conditions.
- In January, Daimler agreed to pay a record
- In February,
- In April,
According to Pang's lawsuit, he started working for Daimler and Xtreme Consulting in Beaverton as a data center management team coordinator in June 2013.
His suit claims he was routinely passed up for promotions given to younger, white employees who were less qualified. The suit claims that on "several occasions, defendants asked and only required minorities to work longer hours and weekends" -- including Pang.
After complaining to management, Pang was told he had to share a cubicle with another minority employee, the suit claims.
"White employees are not treated the same and they have their own individual cubicles," the suit alleges.
Pang left his position earlier this year.
"After Pang was asked to train another white, younger employee, less qualified than Pang, it became too upsetting for Pang and he felt he (had) no other choice but to terminate his employment," the suit states.
A message left with a representative of Xtreme Consulting was not returned.
David Giroux, a Daimler spokesman, said that Daimler cooperated with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, which investigated but did not find sufficient evidence to take action. In an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday, Giroux wrote in part:
"(Daimler) prohibits discrimination in the recruitment, selection, training, utilization, upgrading or termination of any individual, or in any other personnel related activities, based on characteristics protected by law such as race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
"In addition, retaliation against an individual who in good faith complains of alleged discrimination or harassment or provides information in an investigation about behavior that may violate this policy is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated."
Pang's suit seeks at least $100,000 in lost wages and $150,000 for mental and emotional suffering.
Portland attorney Anne Foster is representing Pang in the suit, which was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court. (Read the lawsuit).
-- Aimee Green
503-294-5119