A view of Tesla Inc's U.S. vehicle factory in Fremont, California, U.S., March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

(Reuters) - A California civil rights agency's lawsuit accusing Tesla Inc of widespread discrimination and harassment against Black workers at its Fremont assembly plant will proceed after a state judge denied the electric car maker's bid to toss the case.

California Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo in Oakland on Friday rejected the company's argument that the case was improperly broad, and that the state's Civil Rights Department failed to notify it of the claims or give it a chance to settle before suing.

In the February lawsuit, the agency described Tesla's flagship Fremont plant as a racially segregated workplace where Black employees were harassed and discriminated against in terms of job assignments, discipline and pay.

The agency said Black workers were assigned difficult, menial jobs in racially segregated areas of the factory known as "the dark side," were less likely to be promoted to management positions and were subjected to racial slurs on a daily basis.

Tesla has denied wrongdoing.

Grillo's Friday ruling finalized a tentative ruling he had issued against the company on Aug. 24.

Spokespeople for the state and for Tesla's lawyers declined to comment.

In its motion to dismiss the case, Tesla argued that the agency's lawsuit made so many claims, involving so many employees, that it would not be legally practical for a court to address the matter...

Read Full Story: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/tesla-will-face-california-agencys-r...