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State Farm discrimination class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A judge declined to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by a group of Black former State Farm agents against their former employer.
- Why: The former agents claim State Farm discriminated against them on account of their race.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.
A federal judge in Illinois has declined to dismiss a racial discrimination class action lawsuit alleging State Farm has discriminatory policies and practices that put its Black agents under harsher scrutiny and subject them to more severe discipline.
A group of Black former State Farm agents further claim they were not given the same business opportunities as compared to their non-Black counterparts.
State Farm had inquired with the court about whether the former agents had done enough to plead their claims under a Section 1981 racial discrimination claim.
The judge overseeing the class action lawsuit sided with the former agents in determining that they sufficiently pled their claims against State Farm along with several of the company’s units.
“While a close call, for the reasons that follow, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have done enough at this stage and denies State Farm’s motion to dismiss,” the judge wrote in their memorandum opinion and order.
State Farm class action alleges company engaged in ‘race matching’
The former agents filed an amended complaint against the insurance company in September 2020, at which time they argued the company steered them into neighborhoods that were less wealthy and that had less opportunities.
State Farm sent their non-Black counterparts, meanwhile, into more wealthy and lucrative areas, according to the class action.
The former agents also claim State Farm engaging in what is known as “race matching” by sending them into neighborhoods that had predominantly Black and minority populations.
A separate class action lawsuit was filed against the insurance company earlier this year over claims the company overcharged customers with life insurance policies.
Allstate has also been under fire for discrimination allegations. If you are Black or Hispanic and submitted an Allstate homeowners’ insurance claim in Illinois in the last three years, you may qualify to participate in a racial discrimination lawsuit investigation.
The plaintiffs are represented by Suzanne E. Bish, Linda D. Friedman and George S. Robot of Stowell & Friedman Ltd., and Justin L. Leinenweber of Leinenweber Baroni & Daffada LLC.
The State Farm discrimination class action lawsuit is Williams, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-01121, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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5 thoughts onState Farm class action alleges company discriminates against Black agents
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How do I sign the class action against State Farm been filed a claim since 6/27/22 no one got in contact with me they keep telling me if a get a lawyer I will not get anything
Add me please
There are thousands of successful State Farm agents who are black/minorities. Many are located in urban areas where the average income is much lower. State Farm has made a lot of effort to diversify their agencies over the past 30 years. But, not all new State Farm agents make the cut (black, white, other). It’s a very demanding role.