Ex-Employee Accuses Indiana Car Dealership Of Discrimination

Associated Press

FILE - A July 28, 2017 file photo shows the logo of German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz in Munich, Germany.
*AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File*

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — A black former sales manager at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in northern Indiana is suing the business, saying he was fired in retaliation for complaining about the owner's repeated use of racist language.

Jeffrey Turner filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Mike Raisor Auto Group's Mercedes-Benz dealership in Lafayette.

The suit says Turner started working for Mercedes-Benz of North America in about 1987 and moved to Raisor's dealership in 2011.

It says Raisor used racist language in referring to Turner and while boasting about overcharging African American customers. Raisor fired Turner in 2017 after he reported the owner's language to corporate.

Turner's suit seeks damages.

Raisor's personal attorneys dispute the grievances but confirm he used racist language during a meeting that Turner attended. The dealership's attorney has declined to comment.

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