Business

Taylor Shellfish sued for racial harassment at its Samish Island farm

Associated Press
FILE - In this March 23, 2015 photo, Taylor Shellfish Farms workers place small geoduck clams into mesh tubes that allow the geoduck to burrow in the sand and grow while being protected from predators near Harstine Island, Wash.
FILE - In this March 23, 2015 photo, Taylor Shellfish Farms workers place small geoduck clams into mesh tubes that allow the geoduck to burrow in the sand and grow while being protected from predators near Harstine Island, Wash. Ted S. Warren AP
SEATTLE

One of the largest producers of shellfish in the country is being sued over claims it permitted ongoing racial harassment and retaliatory discipline against a black maintenance mechanic at its Samish Island farm.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a news release it filed on the lawsuit against Taylor Shellfish Farms on Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

The suit alleges Jeremy Daniels faced demeaning comments and stereotypes about his race from the first week of employment at the Taylor Shellfish company’s Samish Bay Farm in Washington.

The lawsuit also claims the man was regularly called the n-word and other derogatory words.

The lawsuit says his supervisor also retaliated against Daniels by assigning him less desirable jobs, screaming profanities at him and writing him up for insubordination.

A company spokesman didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

This story was originally published September 28, 2016 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Taylor Shellfish sued for racial harassment at its Samish Island farm."

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