Oakland County Circuit Judge Daniel O’Brien delivered a message about ethnic intimidation: No, it's not OK.
Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press reports that the judge ruled Tuesday in favor of SMART bus mechanic Mazyn Barash, 57, of Farmington Hills. and upheld an award from the Michigan Civil Right Commission for $300,000 in damages, back wages and attorney fees for ethnic intimidation from coworkers and managers during the Iraq war because of his Iraqi heritage.
Judge O’Brien ruled that SMART “created a hostile work environment” at the suburban bus system and “failed to take adequate steps to stop the offensive conduct and communication” again Barash.
The Freep writes:
Barash, a Chaldean (Iraqi Catholic) born in Iraq, suffered repeated intimidation after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and around the start of the Iraq war in 2003, according to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. The commission ruled in his favor in 2011 and awarded him damages in 2012; SMART appealed.
“I am delighted that Judge O’Brien rejected every single one of SMART’s specious arguments,” Barash said, according to the Freep. “SMART has demonstrated that they have absolutely no regard for the civil rights laws.”
