A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District Court of Texas against Zale Corporation, a Texas based diamond store and jeweler, for violations of employment law, specifically for racial discrimination. Class members seek declaratory judgment, damages, attorney's fees and costs.
Specifically, the plaintiff brings this action to redress the defendants' racial discrimination in employment through discriminatory selection and promotion procedures, discriminatory job placement procedures and other discriminatory terms and conditions of employment against African Americans. African Americans are routinely placed into lower paying jobs because they are:
• They are discouraged and are routinely deterred from seeking higher paying positions
• The higher paying positions are dominated by white employees
• African American employees are not adequately notified and apprised of promotional opportunities
• African American employees believe, based on long-term practices, that they do not have a chance at acquiring such positions.
The named plaintiff in this case, Ronald L. Duplessie, worked for Zale for approximately twenty-three (23) years. He was repeatedly denied promotions and disciplined more than most white co-workers and brings this lawsuit as a result.