Apprentice Called ‘Boy’ and Fired Can Take Case to Trial

A black employee can proceed to trial on his claims that he was unlawfully fired due to his race or because he objected to a manager calling him “boy,” a federal district court ruled.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Utah May 23 rejected a bid by Coates Electrical & Instrumentation to dismiss the lawsuit. The court’s action means a jury will decide the former employee’s claims of discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Coates argued that Evans was fired for insubordination. The company denied its action was unlawfully motivated, but Judge ...