Ryan Marshall, the CEO of PulteGroup, is facing a catastrophic lawsuit after three former Black employees accused the company of unchecked racial behavior.
Richard Turnbow, Roderick Hunter, and Idus Hartsfield all claim to have seen PulteGroup manager Patrick Witzigman make racist statements while wielding a “lynching noose.”
“Our company leadership is committed to ensuring an environment of inclusion where all people are respected and valued. What is depicted in the images is despicable and has no place in our company nor in our society. The allegations are not consistent with our values and corporate culture,” said Jim Zeumer, PulteGroup Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications.
Witzigman is close pals with Brandon Jones, PulteGroup COO and CEO Marshall’s selected candidate. Surprisingly, Witzigman was not disciplined for his discriminating actions by Marshall’s management.
Instead, the Black employees who denounced Witzingman’s actions to management allege retaliation.
“We have photographic evidence that’s never been made public. Ryan Marshall’s managers actually used a noose at a meeting with Black employees in an effort to create an unworkable environment. When they complained, they were written up and subsequently fired,” alleged lead counsel Mark Zausmer, “I’ve never seen anything so clear and egregious.”
The lawsuit against Marshall and PulteGroup on behalf of the terminated black employees was filed in Michigan earlier this week.