BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A federal court jury has awarded $25 million in damages to a western New York steel plant employee who says his bosses failed to stop years of racial taunts and insults from his co-workers.
The Buffalo News reports that the jury on Tuesday found Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal and some of its former executives responsible for the treatment Elijah Turley endured while working at the company’s Buffalo-area steel plant, which closed in 2009.
During the trial, Turley, who is black, testified that “KKK” was written on the walls of the plant and a stuffed monkey with a noose around its neck was found hanging from his driver’s side mirror.
Lawyers for ArcelorMittal say the company took steps to halt the harassment, including hiring a private investigator and suspending employees involved.
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Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.