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Press Release 02-10-2021

Lexus of Cool Springs to Pay $60,000 to Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Lawsuit

Tennessee Dealership Fired Service Consultant Because of Her Sex, Federal Agency Had Charged

NASHVILLE – Performance of Brentwood, L.P., doing business as Lexus of Cool Springs, a car dealership in the greater Nashville area, agreed to pay $60,000 to resolve a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

The EEOC’s lawsuit had charged that Lexus of Cool Springs subjected a female service con­sultant to different treatment than similarly situated male co-workers, and then fired her because of her sex.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrim­ination on the basis of sex and prohibits unequal terms and conditions of employment because of sex. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Performance of Brentwood, Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-00795) in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, after attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

Besides the monetary relief, the two-year consent decree entered by Judge Aleta A. Trauger requires that Lexus of Cool Springs permit female employees to use available leave in circumstances where it permits similarly situated male employees to do so. The company must conduct Title VII training for service consultants and post a notice for two years stating that it will not engage in unlawful discrimination or retaliation.         

“The relief obtained through the consent decree sends the message that gender-based discrim­ination of any kind will not be tolerated in the workplace,” said Faye Williams, regional attorney of the EEOC’s Memphis District Office. “Although gender-based discrimination still persists, EEOC strives to root out those discriminatory practices when they arise,” Williams added.

Delner Franklin-Thomas, district director of the Memphis District Office, added, “Employers should know that gender discrimination in terms and conditions of employment is illegal under federal law.”

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.  Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.