Arab Car Sales Manager to Get Race, National Origin Bias Trial

An Illinois Kia dealership must defend at trial a sales manager’s claims that he was fired because he is Arab American, a federal judge said Monday.

Evidence of Willowbrook Ford Inc. general manager Brian Zawarus’ alleged treatment of customers supports an inference of race and national origin bias against the former car sales manager, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said. Zawarus served as GM for the company’s adjacent Ford and Kia operations and he allegedly said when firing the plaintiff that the plaintiff belonged at a “sub-prime” dealership, the court said.

According to Jared