NASCAR Responds To Lawsuit

You probably have read that NASCAR was accused of racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination in a $225 million lawsuit filed by former employee Mauricia Grant.

NASCAR chairman Brian Grant responded to the allegations, saying that when the lawsuit was filed, that represented the first time that NASCAR had heard her complaints.

I am torn on this subject. On one hand, it isn't hard to believe that Ms. Grant may have been subjected to some off-color remarks. On the other, it isn't hard to believe that she participated in the jokes, only to become disgruntled and sue. The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in the middle.

In total, Ms. Grant alleges fifty-seven specific incidents of mistreatment (23 sexual harassment, 34 racial and gender discrimination). FIFTY-SEVEN!! I can't make myself understand why she would tolerate it for so long, unless she was planning the lawsuit and just gathering ammuntion. I don't think I would put up with that type of treatment for any length of time.

Also, the $225M amount is excessive, in my opinion. That equals over $3.9 million per alleged incident. If the incidents were so bothersome for her that they caused "depression, anxiety, nightmares, sleep disturbance, crying jags, headaches and gastrointestinal distress," I don't understand why she kept going to work.

Don't get me wrong. If NASCAR is found to be at fault, they deserve to be punished. Not to the tune of $225M, but punished severely. The amount requested seems, to me, to be overinflated. I would guess that Ms. Grant and her attorneys aimed high, in order to give themselves plenty of room to come down in a settlement, yet still get a nice dollar amount.

I do NOT think that NASCAR should settle this case out of court. Even if the lawsuit is upheld, NASCAR needs its fans to know that it does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any sort. In its response, NASCAR claims that several of Ms. Grant's claims are exaggerated, in some cases just plain false.

If NASCAR truly believes that Ms. Grant is not being truthful, the employees accused in the lawsuit deserve their support in court, even if it means taking the risk of losing. Agreeing to a settlement is agreeing to responsibility.