Why has the federal government been so far behind corporate America in recognizing the value of diversity and inclusion and implementing diversity-management initiatives Lack of action plans and accountability, says noted discrimination attorney Weldon Latham. He sat down with Fair360, formerly DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti recently to talk about his efforts to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the $1.15-billion class-action decision in favor of Black farmers. Latham has been involved with many high-profile class-action discrimination cases, including those against The Coca-Cola Company and Texaco.
The case was the largest civil-rights settlement in U.S. history. As part of President Barack Obama’s Claims Resolution Act in 2010, $1.15 billion was awarded to more than 15,000 Black farmers who had sued the Department of Agriculture for unfair denial of loans and other benefits. Jackson Lewis was hired by Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to analyze the department and provide recommendations for improving the unresolved racial disparities in wealth distribution.
