Home Depot USA Responds to Racial Profiling Lawsuit Filed by Tyrese Gibson
Home Depot USA has issued a response to a racial profiling lawsuit filed against the company by actor and singer Tyrese Gibson. In court documents, Home Depot argues that the allegations lack evidence based on store surveillance footage and requests that the case be dismissed.
In his lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Gibson claims civil rights violations and negligent hiring, supervision, and retention. Two of Gibson’s construction workers, Eric Mora and Manual Hernandez, are also plaintiffs in the suit. The lawsuit seeks over $1 million in compensatory damages, which represents the amount Gibson claims to have spent at Home Depot over time. Gibson is also seeking punitive damages.
However, Home Depot’s lawyers assert various defenses in court documents, including the claim that the company’s actions were taken in good faith, for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons, and in accordance with business necessity.
The court papers state, “Home Depot further denies any and all wrongful conduct, whether or not alleged in the complaint.” The company also denies the plaintiffs’ entitlement to punitive damages.
According to Home Depot attorneys, store video surveillance confirms that Gibson was not present at the time of the transaction. They insist that the plaintiffs should receive nothing and that the lawsuit should be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
On the other hand, the lawsuit filed on August 9 alleges that Gibson and his associates experienced discriminatory mistreatment and racial profiling at a Home Depot store in West Hills. Gibson, being a highly recognizable Black actor and musician, believes that Home Depot needs to face consequences for such mistreatment and racial profiling.
Gibson and the other plaintiffs aim to fight for civil rights and put an end to discriminatory mistreatment and racial profiling not only at Home Depot but also at all retail stores.
On February 11, Gibson and his construction workers visited the Victory Boulevard store. In order to avoid causing a distraction due to his fame, Gibson had his workers pay for the selected items with his credit card while he went to his car. However, Gibson had to return to the store when the cashier refused to complete the transaction. The cashier insisted on seeing a form of identification without providing a reasonable explanation, according to the lawsuit.
The suit further claims that the manager refused to speak with Gibson and that the transaction was only completed after a heated discussion with the cashier. The lawsuit alleges that the actions of the cashier and manager were racially motivated and states that there is no other plausible explanation for the mistreatment.
Gibson and the other plaintiffs have allegedly suffered shame, humiliation, and mental suffering as a result of these incidents.
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