Amazon class action alleging discrimination against white, heterosexual males dismissed

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Update:

• A California judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Amazon alleging that the tech giant discriminates against heterosexual white male sellers. 
• On Oct. 6, U.S. District Judge Barry T. Moskowitz granted Amazon’s motion to dismiss the discrimination lawsuit filed by plaintiff Jonathan Correll, stating that the complaint didn’t show a sufficient injury to sustain his claims.
• Correll claims that Amazon discriminates by having a feature within its search engine that allows consumers to have products sold by non-white sellers highlighted. However, Amazon hit back, arguing that Correll had never tried to sell anything on its platform, anyway.
• Judge Moskowitz has allowed Correll to amend his complaint by Oct. 31. 

Amazon white male discrimination class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Amazon is asking a judge to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed against it by Jonathan Correll. 
• Why: Amazon argues Correll does not have standing for claims it discriminates against heterosexual white male sellers.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

(Feb. 14, 2022)

Amazon is asking a federal judge in California to dismiss claims that it discriminates against heterosexual white male sellers. 

Plaintiff Jonathan Correll claims Amazon discriminates by having a feature within its search engine that allows consumers to have products sold by non-white sellers highlighted, reports Law360. 

Amazon argues, however, that, since Correll has never personally sold anything on its platform, his claims are merely “nothing more than abstract objections to business practices with which he disagrees.” 

Further, Amazon argues Correll’s claims do not have standing since he himself was not personally harmed, but maintains that, even if he did have standing, its practices are in line with federal and state law. 

Amazon claims the highlighting feature is done simply to spotlight the products from minority, minority, and LGBT-owned businesses. 

“Notably, Correll does not allege that Amazon directly denied him any benefit: He does not claim that Amazon prevented him from selling anything, that he had ever sold any product on Amazon, that he had a product ready to sell on Amazon in the future, or even that he had a product-selling business,” states the motion to dismiss. 

Amazon Provides ‘Exclusive Benefits’ To Non-White Male Sellers, Says Correll

Correll, meanwhile, claims Amazon has created a system that provides exclusive benefits to groups of people that aren’t white men, calling the non-white sellers “preffered and priveleged,” reports Law360. 

“(Amazon has) blatantly created, advertised, marketed and employed several race-, sex- and LGBT status-based policies and programs for its website that entice, steer and direct consumers away from Amazon’s disfavored sellers who are, or who are majority owned by, heterosexual people, white people and males,” Correll said in his class action lawsuit, reports Law360. 

Amazon, meanwhile, argues California and federal law both support and even encourage the type of diversity initiatives the company is doing. 

“California and the federal government separately have enacted numerous laws encouraging businesses to purchase goods and services from a diverse range of suppliers, including businesses owned by women and minorities,” the company said.

Earlier this week, Amazon asked a federal judge to stay a class action lawsuit accusing it of failing to compensate workers for time spent doing COVID-19 temperature screenings. 

Have you used Amazon’s search engine to find a specific product? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Greg Adler.

The Amazon White Male Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit is Correll v. Amazon.com Inc., et al., Case No. 3:21-cv-01833, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

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