New York, Nov. 10 (IANS): A US lawyer whose racial discrimination suit against CNN was dismissed earlier in 2017, has said he is re-filing the class action case - with a new set of plaintiffs and more alleged victims.
The network news channel’s alleged racial discrimination is “as abhorrent as all of the sexual harassment cases that are rightfully now being prosecuted,” Daniel R. Meachum, the attorney from Atlanta city told Fox News.
“Educated, well-intentioned, experienced and talented African-Americans are being discriminated against.”
Celeslie Henley, a plaintiff in the first version, said she worked at CNN for seven years until she was allegedly fired after emailing the Human Resources Department about discriminatory treatment. The suit also claimed that the liberal network had a “glass ceiling” on the career paths of African-American staffers.
The original lawsuit had 175 plaintiffs, but Meachum said 30 more alleged victims have come forward since Judge William Duffey Jr. essentially ruled in July the case did not have enough to move forward as a class action suit.
“We are drafting a new complaint, line by line, addressing the issues that he outlined for us,” Meachum said.
The attorney also said he understands proving discrimination is “a challenge,” but said the 205 plaintiffs involved “are not overly sensitive, walking around with chips on their shoulder”.
The original suit “alleged CNN and sister companies claims that African-Americans receive lower performance ratings in evaluations.”
