Agreement requires policy updates, staff training and corrective actions following civil rights complaint
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) today announced reaching a settlement with Folsom Lake Hyundai and a former employee following allegations that a customer was allegedly denied full and equal services based on their Native American ancestry.
The settlement stems from allegations involving a Tribal Member of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians who claimed they were denied full and equal services based on their Native American ancestry. According to the settlement details released by the CRD, the matter prompted a state investigation that ultimately led to corrective actions being required of the dealership.
As part of the settlement, the dealership will take a wide range of corrective actions, including a visit to the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Museum, updating its policies for handling customer complaints, and training staff on their obligations under state civil rights laws.
“Whether it’s at a local business or an apartment complex, people can experience hate and discrimination in nearly every part of their lives,” said Kevin Kish, CRD director. “We also know that Native American communities in particular experience elevated rates of hate and discrimination. In fact, a recent survey showed that roughly 1 in 8 Native Americans in our state had experienced hate in the past year. California has strong civil rights laws in place to make sure everyone in our state is protected. This settlement shows what can be done when people speak out.”
In 2024, CRD received a complaint against Folsom Lake Hyundai from a customer who alleged they were subjected to derogatory anti-Native remarks and that the dealership took no action after being made aware of the incident. According to the complaint, a former employee at the dealership left a voicemail for the customer and, believing the call had ended, commented that the customer could pay the dealership “in skins and feathers.”
Despite the customer’s complaints to multiple members of management regarding the alleged discriminatory conduct, the dealership allegedly ignored the concerns. As a result, the customer claimed they were effectively denied full and equal access to the dealership’s services.
Under the Unruh Civil Rights Act, businesses in California are prohibited from discriminating against individuals based on protected characteristics, including disability, ancestry, gender identity, race, and sexual orientation. The law prohibits businesses from providing inferior services or charging higher prices based on such characteristics and applies to all businesses open to the public.
After conducting an initial investigation, CRD provided the involved parties an opportunity to voluntarily resolve the allegations through mediation. As part of the settlement, Folsom Lake Hyundai and the former employee, without admitting liability, agreed to take separate corrective actions.
Those actions include updating policies for handling discrimination or harassment complaints from members of the public, identifying a specific point of contact for addressing complaints, implementing an employee code of conduct requiring respectful language and equal service for all customers, requiring training for employees who interact with the public on addressing harassment and discrimination, and visiting the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Museum to better understand the experiences of Native Americans.
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