Nike pays $7.6 million to settle Chicago discrimination suit

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Ameet Sachdev | Tribune staff reporter

Nike Inc. has agreed to pay $7.6 million to settle a race discrimination lawsuit brought by current and former African-American employees at its Niketown store on Michigan Ave, the athletic-shoe giant said Monday.

Nike also submitted to independent monitoring of the store and the appointment of a compliance officer at its corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Under the consent decree, the company admitted no wrongdoing.

In a statement, Nike said it reached a legal settlement to "avoid continued and protracted litigation."

The deal eliminates a potentially damaging public relations problem for Nike. Its shoes and clothing have a huge following among African-American youth. It also relies on high-profile black athletes, such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, in its marketing campaigns.


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-070730-niketown-settle,0,1048767.story

[pinniped]

1. I have been boycotting Nike since the mid 90s

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