Major National Seafood Company Sued for Racial Harassment

SEATTLE (AP) — One of the largest producers of shellfish in the country is being sued over claims it permitted ongoing racial harassment and retaliatory discipline against a black maintenance mechanic.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a news release that it filed the lawsuit against Taylor Shellfish on Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

The lawsuit says Jeremy Daniels faced demeaning comments and stereotypes about his race from the first week of employment at the Taylor Shellfish Company's Samish Bay Farm in Washington.

The lawsuit also says the man was regularly called the n-word and other derogatory words.

The lawsuit says his supervisor retaliated against Daniels by assigning him less desirable jobs, screaming profanities at him and writing him up for insubordination.

Company spokesman Bill Dewey said in a statement that the company hadn't seen the complaint and couldn't speak to it specifically. He also said Taylor Shellfish is proud to have a diverse workforce and that it takes these allegations very seriously.