Major seafood company sued for racial harassment at Whatcom County farm

SEATTLE (AP) — One of the largest producers of shellfish in the country is being sued over claims it permitted ongoing racial harassment and retaliatory discipline against a black maintenance mechanic.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a news release that it filed the lawsuit against Taylor Shellfish Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

The suit alleges Jeremy Daniels faced demeaning comments and stereotypes about his race from the first week of employment at the Taylor Shellfish Company's Samish Bay Farm in Whatcom County.

The lawsuit also claims the man was regularly called the n-word and other derogatory words.

The lawsuit says his supervisor also retaliated against Daniels by assigning him less desirable jobs, screaming profanities at him and writing him up for insubordination.

The company says it hasn't seen the EEOC complaint and therefore can't speak to it specifically.

But it added the following statement:

"We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and proud to have a diverse workforce, and as such we take these allegations very seriously."