After being sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), Tesla is going on the offensive and accusing the civil rights agency of rushing to sue businesses without conducting thorough investigations.
According to a lawsuit filed by DFEH in February, Tesla’s flagship Fremont factory has a racially segregated workplace where black workers are harassed and discriminated against in terms of job assignments, discipline, and pay.
In a 10-page complaint filed with California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL), Tesla claims DFEH has enacted “underground regulations” that circumvent the conditions it must meet before commencing with legal action, according to a report by Reuters.
With the filing, Tesla is hoping to ensure the agency takes further measures before filing a lawsuit, including giving businesses thorough explanations of any legal infractions and attempting to reach an out-of-court settlement.
Tesla filed a motion to suspend the ongoing litigation while the OAL reviews the company’s new complaint. A judge will decide on the motion at a hearing on Wednesday.
Depending on OAL’s review and findings, Tesla could ask the courts to dismiss the lawsuit filed by DFEH.
Tesla has denied any wrongdoing and before the lawsuit was filed said it was “misguided,” adding that the agency has never found them at fault despite nearly 50 investigations.
Tesla calls DFEH discrimination and harassment lawsuit “misguided”
