CNN Black Employees File Racial Discrimination Suit

“We have uncovered stories involving abuse of power, nepotism, revenge, retaliation and discrimination,” lawyer says

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Former and current black employees of CNN on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit charging the network with racial discrimination, according to the law offices of Daniel R. Meachum & Associates.

“As a result of the current discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of DeWayne Walker vs. CNN, Time Warner & Turner, we have uncovered stories involving abuse of power, nepotism, revenge, retaliation and discrimination,” Daniel Meachum said in a statement.

CNN declined TheWrap’s request for comment.

Turner Broadcasting and parent company Time Warner are also named in the suit, which claims that between 20 and 30 current and former employees suffered racial discrimination during the network’s performance evaluation process.

According to legal documents obtained by TheWrap, the plaintiffs seek “declaratory, injunctive and other equitable relief, and compensatory and punitive damages, based on Defendants” discrimination against the named Plaintiffs and members of a class of African-American employees in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

The suit claims CNN the company’s performance evaluation system is discrinatory because it is “implemented by managers exercising undue authority to make biased and inconsistent determinations with little or no oversight and/or feedback.”

The suit continues: “This system permits discrimination on the basis of race in evaluations, where raises, bonuses as well as further advancement within the Company, are based on biases ‘preferred qualifications’ implemented to disguise CNN’s true written and unwritten policies on compensation and advancement.”

Documents show the plaintiffs feel CNN’s “undue discretion of managers” is the reason “African-Americans, especially African-American males, have historically received the lowest performance ratings than their Caucasians counterparts.”

The suit claims that “no factor” such as job grade or experience could explain the “race-based difference in scores.” It said that African-Americans are “denied by the proverbial glass ceiling” and Turner has never promoted an African-American to oversee a network.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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