Indianapolis Hampton Inn to pay $355K to settle lawsuit - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

An Indianapolis Hampton Inn will pay $355,000 to settle a class race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit.

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed the suit, which claimed that the Hampton Inn on Shadeland Ave., fired African-American housekeepers because of their race, and also in retaliation for complaints about race discrimination.

The lawsuit alleged that the hotel paid lower wages to black housekeepers, excluded black housekeeping applicants on a systemic basis and failed to maintain records required by law. The EEOC argued that between at least Sept. 2, 2008 and June 2009, the Hampton Inn, which is run by a company called Noble Management, regularly hired Hispanic entry level applicants for housekeeping positions, but excluded Black applicants who were equally or better qualified.

The hotel will also provide jobs and other relief as part of the settlement, which affects five employees and 70 applicants.

Race discrimination and retaliation for complaining about it violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

"We hope that this is a wake-up call for the Hampton Inn and other employers who discriminate based upon race or ethnic group," said EEOC Indianapolis Regional Attorney Laurie A. Young.