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American Express class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Brian Netzel filed a class action lawsuit against American Express Company.
- Why: Netzel claims American Express illegally favors its Black employees over and at the expense of its white workers.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Arizona federal court.
A former American Express manager accused the company of illegally favoring Black workers and providing a financial incentive for its executives to help enforce the company’s “racial quotas.”
Plaintiff Brian Netzel claims American Express became a “racially toxic” work environment where rules were enforced differently based on “identity group membership.”
“The company’s policies incentivized coworkers and supervisors to use race as a cudgel through which personal grudges and ambitions could be executed,” the American Express class action states.
Netzel argues American Express’ alleged favoring of its Black employees led to “hundreds” of white employees being let go from the company or forced to leave “because they could not tolerate the racially repressive environment.”
“For those that remained, American Express deducted the difference between the working conditions promised and those received from their hearts and their self-esteem and their mental health,” the American Express class action states.
American Express class action alleges retaliatory behavior over hiring decisions
American Express wants its percentage of Black employees to “match that of the U.S. population,” the lawsuit claims.
Executives who were “unwilling to make employment decisions based purely on race rather than merit,” meanwhile, would either be punished, scolded or let go from the company entirely, the American Express class action alleges.
“Once American Express and (CEO Stephen Squeri) handed down their racial engineering marching orders, it gave executives carte blanche to ruthlessly implement a racial caste and quota system in the company,” according to the lawsuit.
Netzel claims American Express violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of general, compensatory and punitive damages for himself and all class members.
Netzel wants to represent a class of all “past, present or potential white employees of American Express” who will be, have been or are being discriminated against in the terms and conditions of their employment on account of their race.
A separate lawsuit was filed against American Express last year over claims the company wrongly listed that he was dead, preventing him from being able to receive credit. The case is currently stayed pending arbitration.
Have you ever felt like you were being discriminated against at your workplace? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by David Pivtorak of The Pivtorak Law Firm and Aaron T. Martin of Martin Law and Mediation PLLC.
The American Express class action lawsuit is Netzel v. American Express Company, et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-01423, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
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8 thoughts onAmerican Express class action alleges company illegally favors Black employees
We need an attorney like you in SC. There is one of the top 3 Multi Family Property Co. That is guilty of these exact same issues and more. Currently, the Co I’m talking about, has more than 61, similar cases filed against them, for same & or extremely similar. A new Area VP came to this Region in September 2020, & fired & or forced out all non Black people, with his Abuse of his power-trip, & made such Hostile work environment, that people had to leave. He had to hire 5 people, who yes, were all black, to replace, my husband & his direct boss, who gave her notice, after like 8yrs, bc of this guy & the deplorable things he did against my husband! They also paid those 5 people, more than they were paying the previous employees, withyrs of service & experience. Some people had to quit, bc their health issues were getting iut of control due to the deplorable,&hostile work conditions! Some of these employees had been w the Co for 10,12 even 15 + yrs b4 being forced out & or fired for being white! He fired & or forced out all white employees, from his start of 9-2020 to 8- 202. when my husband was fired, the Co had to hire 5 people, to replace my husband and his direct PM. All the new 5 were black& paid more from their start!, there were NO WHITE office staff,in his 5 state region, until all thr lawsuits started pouring in!This guy fired white people while approved, and under FMLA status, & for being on work Comp and pretty much, anyone he he wanted & the co allows it! Why, we don’t know?He must know where the bodies are buried! Lol
He, blatantly Refused to follow any of the Federal CDC, CFPB etc. Protection laws, of anyone he decided didn’t deserve those Federal protections! While, yes, he is a horrible human, the worst is that the Co is well aware, and still does nothing to stop him! This guy…when they fired my husband.. he was again, set to be out on FLMA. He was fully approved, Ppwk signed by CO.etc. just had to wait for the crazy Covid-19 spike to settle so it was safe for surgeries again in the SC area. So, if this attorney, has a close trusted Colleague, who wants to reach out to see about turning all this Mess into a class they can reach out to me directly. Fyi. If anyone has an attorney that may want to find out more, i can get their details to the Group, & we can go from there. I hope this guy gets justice for him & all of his Co workers for AMEX.
There will be NO change for the Better in our country, EVER, if we allow people to get away with being Horrible people! More people need to realize that Racism, is not just one sided. It is equally IGNORANT & UNACCEPTABLE!!! No matter who is being Racist, IT IT NOT OK! This is NOT the world, society, still filled with Racist Ignorance, Intollerance of differences etc. I want to leave mine, or any kids ! You would think, we put a man on the moon, have A.I. that is so for advanced, thatvwe can control satalites in space, with ease! But we can’t figure out to stop this Hate, Separation, Division of human kind etc!! Really? I am horrified that this is what my/ & all kids are being left with! I don’t/ can’t understand, how again, for as advanced as we are as the human race, we are truly Idiots! Its like we have to take everything that needs to be fixed, to the EXTREME! I don’t know why, it goes from making a long overdue correction, of ensuring all men & women are truly treated EQUALLY, to REPEATING the Ignorance, & making it even worse! Change, does NOT mean to make it the Opposite. It means adjustment, compromise, FIX THE ISSUE! NOT CREATE MORE!!! Ugg.
Sorry for the long post, this topic is a hit button for me.. in case that was not clear..🤣 I do hope these people get swift, fair Justice in this mess!!
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I applaud this gentlemen for standing up for the racial bias that companies exhibit. It is so wrong. The “special treatment” due to race must stop. Hire and retain an employee for their merits, not their race. I hope he gets all that is due to him. I too have worked for a company that held me down simply because I am a white female.
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Here’s a needless lawsuit. This type of ” business practice” ( if true in part or all) has been standard operating procedure in our culture for several hundred years by the established majority of white men running this country and its systems. I believe in Affirmative Action. I am white and female.
So two wrongs make a right? Perhaps if it was you or a loved one who were being held down you would not be so quick to judge. Racial inequality and discrimination MUST stop. Either we start to be fair to all or people will continue to be racially, and gender motivated just like you. It is your type of hate and thinking that will perpetuate the practice. You are the problem
White and female is not relevant. Brainwashed and mind-feeble is.