Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP Files Race and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit on Behalf of Five E-Loan Employees

Business Wire, Oct 19, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco law firm Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP announced the filing of a racial and sexual orientation harassment lawsuit against online consumer lending company E-Loan, Inc. (Nasdaq:EELN), which currently is in the process of being acquired by Popular, Inc. (Nasdaq:BPOP).

The lawsuit, Maraquita Banks v. E-Loan, Inc., RG05234310, was filed in the Alameda County Superior Court on behalf of five former and current E-Loan automobile loan underwriters who allegedly were subjected to a hostile work environment resulting from a barrage of racial slurs, insults and jokes by a supervisor who was transferred from E-Loan's office in Florida to its headquarters in Pleasanton. Despite numerous complaints to E-Loan's management, the company allegedly did nothing to correct the problem.

"The law entitles employees to work in an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment -- where they are not called names or humiliated because of who they are," said Keith Fong, one of the attorneys handling the case on behalf of the plaintiffs. "It is inconceivable that in 2005 a publicly-traded company would allow this kind of behavior to go unchecked, particularly in a company that is based in the Bay Area."

The lawsuit alleges that E-Loan violated the anti-discrimination provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California law that forbids discrimination in the workplace. The complaint also includes claims that E-Loan improperly classified the plaintiffs so that the company could avoid paying them overtime and giving them their breaks and meal periods as required by law.

ABOUT THE FIRM: Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP represents both plaintiffs and defendants in individual and class actions throughout the country. Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP can be found on the world wide web by visiting www.kerrwagstaffe.com.