Xerox bias lawsuit receives class-action status
Thursday March 25, 5:52 pm ET
NEW YORK, March 25 (Reuters) - A New York judge has agreed to certify a national class-action lawsuit alleging race discrimination against black employees of office equipment maker Xerox Corp. (NYSE:XRX - News), the plaintiffs' lawyers said on Thursday.
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United States District Judge John Gleeson, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, has certified a class of black sales employees of Xerox between 1997 and the present, under a suit filed in 2001.
James Vaganini, of the law firm Leeds Morelli & Brown, said the plaintiffs may seek damages in a range of $25 million to $250 million, depending on how many people join the suit. The action alleges Xerox had a pattern of refusing promotions, denying commissions and otherwise discriminating against black members of its sales force.
Stamford, Connecticut-based Xerox said that while it is disappointed by the judge's decision, it notes that the order is not a finding of any wrongdoing on Xerox's part.
"Xerox has conducted thorough investigations into the allegations related to this case," the company said in a statement. "Our investigation did not uncover racially motivated actions."
"Xerox vehemently denies any wrongdoing and will continue to vigorously defend itself," it added.
The plaintiffs are represented by Leeds Morelli & Brown, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach and Diane Bradley Esq.
Shares of Xerox rose 36 cents, or 2.6 percent, to close at $14.21 on Thursday.
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