News Article

Coke Ordered To Surrender Database

The Atlanta Constitution

Published: June 09, 1999

ATLANTA -- A federal judge in Atlanta has given Coca-Cola until July 1 to turn over to plaintiffs in a racial bias case a detailed database on its work force.

An order issued by U.S. District Judge Richard Story appears to expedite the process of deciding whether the lawsuit, filed by three current African-American employees and one former staffer, can be expanded into class-action status and include another 1,500 black, salaried employees who work for the beverage giant.

The lawsuit accuses Coca-Cola of engaging in a companywide practice of discriminating against African-American employees. The company has strongly denied the accusations and late last month asked Story to dismiss the suit.

Story's scheduling order, issued Friday, did not address the company's motion.

"It's a well-thought-out, no-nonsense order that puts the class-certification issue on as fast a track as is practical," Cyrus Mehri, the Washington lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said Tuesday.

The plaintiffs will hire a statistical expert to analyze the database. Once he or she has completed the evaluation, the plaintiffs must make this person available to Coca-Cola attorneys for sworn testimony, Story said.