Pennsylvania Company Settles Virginia Discrimination Lawsuit

A Pennsylvania company has settled a federal lawsuit that accused it of refusing to promote an employee at its Virginia plant because he is black.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement Thursday. The agency had filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Richmond against Radnor, Pa.-based Airgas Carbonic Inc.

Airgas agreed to pay $40,000, revise its anti-discrimination policy and provide training to its supervisors and employees about federal anti-discrimination laws.

The lawsuit alleged that Clarence Seay, a lead operator, wasn’t promoted to plant manager in August 2005 because of his race. The lawsuit said a lesser qualified white worker was given the position.