Coca Cola Settles Bias Lawsuit

The Coca-Cola Co. will pay $192.5 million to resolve race bias allegations made by a class of 2,000 current and former African-American employees. Four current and former African-American Coke employees filed the lawsuit, which sought class-action status.

The plaintiffs alleged disparities between black and white employees in salaries, promotions, performance evaluations and dismissals. A portion of the cash settlement will go toward a compensatory damages fund which will resolve any settlement class members' claim for such issues as emotional distress, hostile work environment and non-wage-related disparate treatment. However, this settlement does not end Coca-Cola's legal wrangling over alleged discrimination.

The company is also facing a $1.5 billion discrimination lawsuit filed by four former workers.