Oregon Jury Awards Former AT&T Employee $224,000 in Racial Case

A Portland, Ore. jury has awarded more than $224,000 to a woman who said she suffered retaliation for complaining about racism on the job at AT&T.

The Multnomah County Circuit Court jury awarded the money Monday to Jeanine Clair for lost wages and emotional distress.

The Oregonian reported she was the only African American working at AT&T’s downtown Portland store.

Clair said she suffered on-the-job retaliation after she complained that a co-worker used a racially derogatory term to describe African Americans and stated that people of a different race smelled bad.

An AT&T spokesman said the company investigated the matter and determined the conduct occurred outside the workplace where it has no control.

Clair resigned because she didn’t want to return to a hostile work environment.