The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

Employee settles race discrimination lawsuit against Forever 21

by City News Service • September 15, 2022 Leave a Comment

A Black Forever 21 employee who sued the company alleging she has been unfairly denied promotions to manager because of her race, subjected to racially inappropriate comments by her boss, and demoted and transferred to another store when she complained about her work conditions has reached a settlement with the fashion retailer.

An attorney for plaintiff Monica Fowler told Los Angeles County Superior Court Daniel S. Murphy during a case management conference on Wednesday, Sept. 14, that the case was resolved. No terms were divulged.

In their court papers, attorneys for Forever 21 denied any wrongdoing on the part of the clothing store chain and said some of Fowler’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations.

Fowler was still employed by the company at the time her lawsuit was filed March 1, alleging harassment, race discrimination, retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation as well as negligent hiring, supervision and retention. Fowler held the position of team lead at the Arcadia store in the Westfield Santa Anita mall from September 2018 until September 4, 2020, when she was demoted to a sales associate and transferred, according to the suit. Prior to her demotion, Fowler, the only Black employee at the store, “experienced repeated and ongoing racial harassment and discrimination” by her supervisor, Araz Berberian, a co-defendant in the case, the suit stated.

When Black customers entered the store, Berberian called Fowler on her electronic device and told her to follow them around the store “to ensure they weren’t stealing,” according to the suit. Berberian often asked Fowler, “Do you think I’m racist if I think they’re stealing?” and “Is it OK for me to say this about a Black person?” the suit stated. Berberian told Fowler that he and other employees at the Forever 21 store where he previously worked often caught Black people taking items without paying for them, the suit stated.

Fowler regularly asked for a promotion to manager given that as a lead, she had the duties and responsibilities of one without receiving the same pay, the suit stated. However, Fowler was twice passed up for a management position, the suit stated. In March 2020, Berberian told Fowler she would be given a promotion to manager the next time there was an opening, but the job was given instead to a non-Black employee, according to the suit. Fowler complained to human resources in June 2020 that she was unfairly denied a higher position, but Berberian confronted her the next day and said, “You know that whenever someone complains about me to HR, I know about it, right?,” the suit stated.

Although the human resources manager told Fowler her complaints about Berberian would be investigated, in September 2020, Berberian told her she was being transferred to the Ontario store and demoted to a sales associate, the suit stated.

“In short, (Fowler) was subjected to a pattern and practice of racial harassment and discrimination and unlawful retaliation … which caused her to experience significant emotional distress and economic losses,” the suit stated.

–

Filed Under: Business, Los Angeles County

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Comments

  • Tony on Man allegedly steals CHP vehicle, leaps from speeding cruiser: “I was laughing that they kept saying 70 pmh when it was actually 45 mph” Mar 29, 00:18
  • Tim Scott on Judge awards $1 million in attorneys’ fees to worker who protested segregation: ““Tim’s finally right about 1 thing, those were the good ol’ days” I can see why you would think of…” Mar 28, 23:54
  • Tim Scott on Man allegedly steals CHP vehicle, leaps from speeding cruiser: “True, but if you crack the door open before you let off the gas the momentum of the door as…” Mar 28, 23:22
  • Tim Scott on 15 arrested or cited, none for DUI at Palmdale checkpoint: “That’s why it begs the question; if they are really trying to catch drunk drivers, why is 2AM the shut…” Mar 28, 23:20
  • Ledesma 99 on Man allegedly steals CHP vehicle, leaps from speeding cruiser: “He must be Hercules. The aerodynamic drag against the door of a speeding vehicle is enormous.” Mar 28, 23:02

Copyright © 2023 · The AV Times LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use