EEOC refiles discrimination suit against Bass Pro

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week refiled a lawsuit against Bass Pro Inc. and subsidiaries Bass Pro Outdoor World LLC and Tracker Marine LLC.

The suit, which claims Bass Pro has engaged in companywide discriminatory hiring practices, was dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge in the Southern District of Texas in May.

The ruling provided the EEOC an opportunity to file a second complaint by July 20.

The 247-page suit, which originated from stores in the Houston, Texas, area and was expanded to the entire company, claims:

• Bass Pro discriminated against blacks and Hispanics by denying them employment;
• corporate managers encouraged and assisted store managers in implementing discriminatory hiring practices;
• preference was given to whites for various positions;
• the companies have unlawfully retaliated against employees who opposed the alleged discriminatory hiring practices; and
• the defendants failed to preserve relevant records that would show whether unlawful employment practices have been or are being committed.

The EEOC is seeking:

• a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendants from engaging in discriminatory hiring practices;
• an order requiring the defendants to institute polices and programs providing equal employment opportunities;
• an order that would have the defendants make compensation to black and Hispanic applicants who were allegedly denied jobs and company employees who retaliated against the claimed policies, stemming from emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life and humiliation in relation to the claims; and
• compensation for court costs.

In his May dismissal ruling, Judge Keith Ellison sided with the EEOC on one portion, saying there was evidence Bass Pro maintained improper records, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.[[In-content Ad]]