Tesla Challenges ‘Staggering’ $137 Million Award in Racism Case

  • Car company says award bears no relationship to evidence
  • Jury ruled last month in favor of Black contract worker
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
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Tesla Inc. asked a judge to set aside a “staggering” $137 million verdict in favor of a contract worker who accused the company of failing to protect him from rampant racism in its northern California factory and order a new trial.

The Oct. 4 award to Owen Diaz by jurors in San Francisco federal court is believed to be one of the largest in U.S. history for an individual plaintiff in a racial discrimination case.