PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) — A federal jury has awarded two men $300,000 in compensatory damages in a lawsuit alleging Riceland Foods retaliated against them for complaining about racial remarks made by their supervisor.
The Stuttgart Daily Leader reported that the jury deliberated about 50 minutes before reaching a verdict in favor of Randy Bennett and Richard Turney.
Turney and Bennett accused their supervisor in March 2009 of using derogatory language and racial slurs. All three men are white.
According to the lawsuit, the supervisor was counseled about his grievance reports and Bennett and Turney were moved to different positions. The lawsuit says both men were notified that their jobs were being eliminated in July 2009.
A message left Sunday for Riceland's attorney, Spencer F. Robinson, wasn't immediately returned.
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