David Farkas, a previously employed senior corporate counsel at FirstEnergy, a major Ohio-based electrical utility, has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was dismissed as a result of his opposition to the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program, which he maintains is “unlawful”.
According to the lawsuit, Farkas, a white male who began working at FirstEnergy in 2011, claims that his dismissal amounted to both discriminatory and retaliatory acts. Having initially received high praise and positive assessments, Farkas states his career unexpectedly hit a snag following the company’s decision to implement a revised DEI program in 2018.
This new program linked annual bonus payout to the achievement of diversity-related objectives, a measure that, according to Farkas, led to a series of unfavourable outcomes for him professionally.
The case was presented before the Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County. As the proceedings continue, other corporate entities and legal professionals will be monitoring with stark interest, given the serious challenges raised against DEI practices which are increasingly commonplace across the corporate landscape.
For more details on Farkas’ lawsuit and the specifics of the challenges raised, see the original report at Law.com.