Class action discrimination lawsuit filed against Wet Seal

    A former King of Prussia store manager has accused the Wet Seal clothing chain of racial bias.

     

    According to CBS3, Nichold Cogdell was working in the Montgomery County store back in 2009 when she was introduced to the then vice president, Barbara Bachman. After a brief introduction, she then overheard the woman say, “That’s the store manager? I wanted someone with blond hair and blue eyes.”

    Cogdell was fired four days later.

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    Since the incident, an email sent by the vice president surfaced, reports CBS3:

    In it Bauchman writes, “Store teams need diversity. African American-dominate, huge issue.”

    She also has a glowing review for the King of Prussia store but it says of Cogdell, “not right fit for the store.” Cogdell filed a racial discrimination complaint with the EEOC.

    Cogdell’s attorney has set up a website for others that feel they’ve also been racially discriminated against. And while Wet Seal denies all allegations and is “proud of the diversity” of their workforce, its Cogdell’s belief that that belief in diversity did not apply to the high-end showcase store in which she was working.

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