A trial kicks off in San Francisco federal court on Monday to determine how much money Tesla Inc must pay to a black elevator operator who a jury determined was subjected to severe racial harassment while working at the electric auto maker's flagship assembly plant.
As at the last trial, Diaz and several employees and managers at the Fremont, California plant are expected to testify. The jury in 2021 awarded Diaz nearly $7 million in compensatory damages for emotional distress, and $130 million in punitive damages, designed to punish unlawful conduct and deter it in the future.
Lawrence Organ, a lawyer for Diaz, said he hoped the new jury would return a larger verdict than the $15 million award offered by Orrick and convince the judge higher damages are warranted.