Carter v. Luminant Power Services Co. was a case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 2014. The case involved a group of African American employees who worked at a coal-fired power plant in Texas, operated by Luminant Power Services Co.
The employees alleged that they were subjected to racial discrimination and harassment in the workplace, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, they claimed that they were subjected to racial slurs, threats, and intimidation by their white co-workers, and that the company failed to take appropriate action to address the problem.
The Court of Appeals held that the employees had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of racial discrimination and harassment. The Court found that the employees had been subjected to a hostile work environment and that the company had failed to take prompt and effective action to address the problem.
The Court's decision affirmed the importance of Title VII in protecting employees from discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and underscored the obligation of employers to take prompt and effective action to address such problems when they arise.
