Jury Rules against Tennessee Woman in Racial Harassment Suit

July 31, 2009

A federal jury has ruled against a white woman who claims she was harassed for defending black co-workers at a Whirlpool factory in La Vergne.

Treva Nickens said the harassment started when she agreed to testify for black co-workers in court.

Her case is unusual because it claims "associational harassment.''

The factory's human resources manager said the company won't tolerate racial harassment in any form. But one supervisor testified that he would give employees several warnings before reporting claims to management.

Whirlpool attorney Adam Wit argued that Nickens often complained to management about scheduling and overtime, but not harassment. He said none of her co-workers admits hearing her complaints even though the plant is now closed and there's nothing to lose.