Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Sharp Precision Loses Discrimination Ruling

(CN) - A California manufacturing company lost a default judgment in federal court after the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission found that it discriminated against female and Hispanic employees. Six women accused co-owner Charles Trimble of calling one woman a "truck-stop ho" and berating others based on their Mexican heritage, among other allegations.

Anna Valdez McAllister and five other employees filed a class action against Trimbco, Inc., which does business as Sharp Precision Manufacturing. The plaintiffs claimed they were subjected to a hostile work environment for the following reasons:

- Lilian Aranda said co-owner Charles Trimble insulted her Mexican heritage, called her a "bitch," and said "You beaners are all the same."

- Debra Garza said Trimble berated her after she did not return his flirtations. She said he remarked that "Cinco de Mayo is coming; you know how these beaners get."

- Laura Jennings, who is married, said Trimble begged her to live with him and said they would be sexually compatible.

- Leilani Martinez said Trimble forced her to work weekends and overtime for free, and forced her to return to work three days after giving birth. She said Trimble remarked that the baby was "sucking her brains out."

- Melinda Safford said Trimble referred to her as "Chuck's bitch" and commented about her menstrual cycle. She said that when Trimble found out she was Native American, he called her a "wagon burner."

- McAllister said Trimble called her breasts "jugs" and "tits" and referred to her as a "f---ing lazy Mexican" and a "truck-stop ho."

Despite all of these alleged comments, Trimble did not have any comments for the San Jose-based federal court.

"Trimbco failed to defend itself against this action by refusing to abide by this court's order to obtain counsel," U.S. District Judge Trumbull ruled. "Indeed, since the withdrawal of counsel, Trimbco has not appeared whatsoever."

Trumbull awarded each of the employees $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...