And, for $225 million, no one thought that this one wasn’t going to get REAL personal, and REAL dirty?
Sigh … well, then … here we go, no doubt courtesy of NASCAR/ISC HIRED-GUNS/MUD-SLINGERS, because God knows the general public wouldn’t really want to know the TRUTH about what actually happened to Grant on NASCAR/ISC’s clock, would we?
I’m not “taking sides” on this one (yet, if ever - and even then, only pending empirical evidence released during the proceedings themselves), other than to say that bringing up a past not relating directly to any actual discriminatory actions on NASCAR’s/ISC’s parts which would be “detrimental to stock-car racing” (ahem) is classic NASCAR/ISC PR bullshit.
Other than that?
If Grant didn’t take it upon herself to DECK the alleged racist assholes who thus “abused her so” during her reign as a NASCAR official? Then … honestly … shame on her, for they certainly would have deserved it, and “$225 MILLION” ain’t about to square anything but her own bank account - and, ya’ really think, if she wins, that she’ll be putting that money toward anti-racism and/or “diversity” programs anywhere? Ha … not likely.
Moreover, if she’d taken care of “business”, HERSELF, when it happened the FIRST time, there likely wouldn’t have been “23/34 counts” of this “illegal” behavior at all - there would have been ONE, easily handled and most likely quickly forgotten. Racist pigs (let alone mere “men”) like she’s described aren’t hard to conquer, after all; they’re redneck idiots to begin with, most definitely already insecure about their penal size, and otherwise not worthy of much but a swift take-down. Period.
Ah, but of course - you’re reading this for the DIRT on Grant .. so here ya’ go, much to my disgust on all levels:
NASCAR: Mauricia Grant, the former racing official who has accused NASCAR of racial discrimination and sexual harassment in a $225-million lawsuit, had a restraining order filed against her by a former boyfriend and was arrested for driving under the influence. Grant, who filed her suit in June, also was charged with driving with a suspended license while still employed as a technical inspector for NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. An attorney for Grant said his client did not refute anything in her past, but previous actions have no bearing on the suit that alleges 23 specific incidents of sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of racial and gender discrimination during her time working for NASCAR. Freep’s Update
NASCAR/ISC’s Current “Company Line” on Grant’s Firing, per 8/9, ESPN
7 Comments
I wonder if Karl Rove has been put on the payroll at NA$CAR?
This is the kind of shameless tactic we have seen in recent years. Instead of addressing the issue, ‘attack the messenger’.
Like Angler, Grumpy does not wish to take a side on the merits of the case. I am sure there is blame enough to share among all the players.
I will say; shame on NA$CAR for their attempt to discredit Ms Grant by making public things that have nothing to do with the lawsuit or its merit.
Let’s make a couple of assumptions.
1. That Grant did in fact hound a former boyfriend up to including contacting his former employer seeking his dismissal.
2. That she was indeed fired for tardiness, and other untoward behavior while in the employ of NASCAR.
Number one specks to a personality that displays vindictiveness, not to mention a mental level not consistent with her age. It also speaks to a potential reason for the lawsuit.
Given that, NASCAR/ISC has every legal, if not moral right to introduce that part of her history in their defense.
Sorry guys, if it wasn’t allowed it would have been, or will be tossed by the judge.
Hi, guys! Damn, it feels great to be back, (as long as I can be again, anyway), and to see you two still keepin’ an eye out for my rumbles & rambles, grin (though, GEEZ, Marc … I’ll get to YOU in a second, lol!)
Grumpy, sweetpea, grin … we’re on the same page, especially in terms of bringin’ out the dirt in PUBLIC, long before it becomes (if it ever is) a germane issue to the legal proceedings themselves — IN Court. “SHAMEFUL” is a perfect descriptor, all the way around.
As for YOU, dearest Marc, lol …
Couldn’t you have picked something you actually AGREED with me about for our first go-round in so long???? I’m a little RUSTY over here, ya’ know!! grin … nah, just kidding, darlin’ … thanks for keepin’ Grump company around here whilst I’ve been off trying to do a few money-makin’ projects. Have missed you … and “here”. And so much more!! (”Real” work, while still always fun for a writer, sometimes totally sucks the life (racin’ life & passion, anyway,) right the hell outa’ ya’ for a bit … hate it when that happens, grin.)
AS for “Ms. Grant” & NASCAR, though — AHEM … UPON our “assumptions”, per above, at this point, then:
1. You very well HAVE a couple/few very valid points, if these assumptions are true.
Aside from the fact that I merely won’t ever — ever — respect this woman for the way she’s handled/handling ANY of this thus far (AT ALL) … in a LEGAL sense, issues of character in suits of this nature are most DEFINITELY considered in order to try to get to the “veracity” part of a plaintiff’s claims. Entirely appropriate, at that point, on the defense side, to pull out ALL the stops to assassinate character and show cause for “accused” behavior (unlawful firing, for one thing). Let alone to do the same in order to defray or discredit any false claims of that nebulous “discriminatory” behavior, and its being “allowed to continue once reported to NASCAR/ISC”, etc. Yup … you’re right there — IF the judge in question agrees to admit such things into “evidence”, after which they become of record and, legally, “in play”.
2. At this point, they ARE “assumptions”.
These won’t/shouldn’t fly in a Court room — everything from heresay to how much Grant can tap into the “contingency”-talent/MONEY of the legal kind to refute these claims effectively enough, even IF true? That’s the true shell-game of our present legal system. Whichever side pays (or expects to be paid) MORE — be it in hours or (paid-)witnesses (grin), expert testimony, etc. or not — in the end? Those who have the most cash do the best “legal” work … witness O.J., as just ONE example. (His most “famous” case — not his most “recent cases”, as I have NO idea nor care about what’s happening to him now.)
HOWEVER … if these “assumptions” or “facts of evidence” are released INSIDE that Court FIRST, whether or not this sort of behavior in Grant’s past occurred and/or didn’t occur?
You’re right — NASCAR/ISC has EVERY RIGHT to use it.
If it’s merely released to the MEDIA, and BEFORE a judge decides its veracity and/or admittance into “evidence” or not?
DIRTY, SCUM-RIDDEN, PR-DRIVEN, MUD-SLINGIN’ AMORAL behavior designed ONLY to make Ms. Grant look like what I might think she MIGHT be myself, considering the AMOUNT of the suit and the way she waited to FACE DOWN HER “ADVERSARIES”in that garage area — but also proof POSITIVE of a defense trying to capitalize upon the “public moment/sentiment” to prove NASCAR/ISC’s “goodness” in the areas of racial/sexual discrimination, or lack thereof — which we all know is bullshit, because their idea of “diversity” is to maybe have a few “tokens” here and there for form’s sake only.
I’d rather see NO such “diversity” BS than one that’s purely designed for PR. In fact, I’d rather see a world where “diversity programs” are no longer needed/WANTED at ALL — especially in racin’, where you should prove your mettle on the TRACK, only, as a driver … and a pro off the track, on your MERIT, only. But, hey … that’s “my perfect world”, and beside the point.
My reasons for already disrespecting Ms. Grant, while I will NOT side with NASCAR/ISC in this, REGARDLESS?
I don’t respect ANYONE who goes the lawsuit/$$$ route for much of ANYthing — but especially for things like this.
I’d rather see someone fighting off multiple assault charges with a COUNTER-suit of this nature, asking for ONE DOLLAR in damages, aside from compensatory legal fees, etc., after LITERALLY KICKIN’ THE ASSES OF THOSE INVOLVED, FIRST, come what may.
If Grant’d DONE that? I might have a different view of her. But she waited … and in my mind, BAITED. And, now? $225 MILLION tells me ALL I need to know about her, as a WOMAN, let alone a “black woman” — and it isn’t anything I respect on ANY level.
Do my personal feelings about her actions in terms of this lawsuit mean that she doesn’t have a valid complaint? Nope.
Do my feelings about NASCAR/ISC mean that they don’t have a valid defense? Nope.
I’m truly disgusted by BOTH entities, honestly, and think it’s not just about “them” anymore. It’s about the ISSUE(S) involved, and there are MANY — and, to me, BOTH SIDES HAVE LOST ALREADY.
So there, grin … I WILL NOT BLINK!!!! LOL
All things considered, it looks like the 800 lb gorilla (NA$CAR) has decided to try the case in the media. Hell, it worked for O.J.
IMO, this case will never see the inside of a courtroom. NA$CAR will settle for an ‘undisclosed sum’.
Grumpy both you and to a certain extent Angler have gone off track with this: (”All things considered, it looks like the 800 lb gorilla (NA$CAR) has decided to try the case in the media. Hell, it worked for O.J.)
Can either of you cite a reference that gives the original source of this disclosure as NASCAR?
I haven’t seen a single one, the original stories were all Associated Press reports and none were sourced to NASCAR leaking the info.
Unless I missed it you both need to toss bricks at the media for releasing this type of info, not NASCAR
Quoting from a column written by David Poole of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER:
Late last week, NASCAR used the media to unleash a campaign to discredit Grant by dredging up some legal issues she faced in years before she was employed by NASCAR. It was a shameful tactic, suggesting that since NASCAR couldn’t go at Grant on the substance of what she claims happened to her while working there the company needed a diversionary tactic.
Let’s deal with that first and move on. Even if we assume that Grant did everything NASCAR says she did to the worst possible degree, that does not change by one molecule the level to which she is protected, by law, against discrimination and harassment on the job. It is not more acceptable to discriminate against or to harass a “bad” person than it is a “good” one, no matter who is drawing the lines between who’s bad and who’s good.
Part of NASCAR’s defense in the Grant suit is that it was Grant, herself, who came up with the phrase “colored people’s time” to explain away why she was sometimes late for a car pool ride. Instead of laughing at that and perpetuating it, though, what her NASCAR supervisor(s) should have done right then is cut that off and say he or she didn’t want to hear it again, from Grant or anybody else.
If you want to read the entire column on this and other topics, check out his blog:
http//:turn-lane.blogspot.com
Aw, hell, Marc … (and hi!!!! grin … I’ve missed you!!)
Now, do you EVER think that I always properly “cite” every “factoid” I profess as gospel around here?? When in doubt, it’s ALWAYS NASCAR/ISC’s fault!!!!!!!
hehe … ok, ok … I’m just kidding. Sorta’. I have NO empirical evidence of my OWN that NASCAR/ISC’s PR staff released anything about Grant’s past, whether or not it was/is relevant to their present lawsuit. It was just a real damned good guess on my part.
Just seems to be their “M.O.” to do such things, and NO, I don’t have a list of prior occasions in their myriad lawsuits when they’ve used the press to their advantage (either, grin) — right OR wrong on an ‘ethical’ or just ‘angler-ethics’ level …
But, truly — repugnant or not — it’s a classic tack to try a case in the media if one CAN, first. Helps legal-beagles from both sides gauge sentiment, work juries (both the choosing of and the angling of once in Court) … plus, in the right circumstance, it’s a phenomenal PR tool in general.
“No such thing as bad publicity — negative publicity is still an opportunity to get your ‘TRUE’ MESSAGE out”, and all of that …
For NASCAR/ISC, an entity that’s fought against a very real perception (due to basis in fact, of course) of ongoing racial/sexual discrimination for eons now, it just seems to ME to be a critical time to use their best form of defense — a public offense, against ONE person with an iffy suit (that not even I believe has much merit at all, honestly).
The problem I have with it all is in my GUT, Marc — right to the core. That, I can’t possibly quantify OR qualify.
For ONE thing (though there is more,) I don’t believe that Grant’s suit is RIGHT. $225 million? As IF being fired and/OR sexually/racially discriminated against in the way she claims has “damaged” her and/or her “potential income” to THAT extent. So, GET REAL, MS. GRANT.
Even after her attorneys take their share of whatever she MIGHT “get”, she’s a weak-charactered opportunist, in my opinion, or that suit would be for ONE DOLLAR, plus legal expenses — for principle’s sake alone.
I also don’t believe for a moment that NASCAR/ISC has handled ANY of this any more honorably at ANY point along the way … from her first complaint, to this suit. (And in between — what — were they “afraid” of firing her before they did, BECAUSE she’s a black woman? If so, this is JUST as discriminatory!!! It discriminates against PROPER candidates for that job, no matter their gender/color … even if they may have been — uh-oh — WHITE MEN. If they could DO the job, if they’re the BEST candidates, then HIRE THEM and let this “discrimination” BS go, already.)
As I posted at “some” point here before, grin — they ALL LOSE THIS ONE.
I do agree with Grump that it’ll probably never see a “verdict” — if there’s any merit to her case at all, there’ll be a nice, quiet settlement, and Grant’ll likely end up with more money than she’d have ever made in her entire career.
Meanwhile, NASCAR/ISC will have tried to have swept one more occasion of discrimination (of ANY kind) under the rug — but only AFTER their PR staff (their direct line to the MEDIOTS, who grasp this sort of shit like it’s a lifeline) has put so much doubt in the public eye, that the very IDEA of equality “anywhere” is blown off (again) because everyone’s “SICK OF IT”, “so confused”, “they don’t know all the facts”, “it’s obviously over now” … take your pick.
I’m disgusted by ALL of it, and ALL OF THEM, Marc.
Is there racial/sexual discrimination in NASCAR/ISC? HELL YES. And I’m not speaking “generally”.
I’m a woman, and I experienced it MYSELF at the “hands” of “employees of” — but did I ever “sue” over it? LOL … as IF. I DEALT with the asshole(s) responsible, AT the time(s), and that was THAT. No one close to ANY of those situations ever so much as looked in my direction the wrong way again after JUST ONCE, in EVERY instance. Eventually, word got around the entire venue (MIS) — “don’t mess with ‘her’ that way if you don’t want more trouble than you can handle, no matter WHO YOU ARE”.
And I was just a professional VENDOR of NASCAR/ISC back then — not even an “official” employee, so their employees had the ‘potential’ of doing a LOT more and getting away with it, HAD I ALLOWED IT.
I DIDN’T, and I sure as hell didn’t need to “SUE” over it.
The way I was raised, ya’ fight your OWN battles. Period.
Beyond my personal experiences, then, as a “white” woman and therefore not discriminated by NASCAR/ISC (anyway) for my “race”? Does racial discrimination still go on in NASCAR/ISC? YUP.
IT GOES ON EVERYWHERE, FOR GOD’S SAKE. AND IT’S NOT RIGHT. AND IT SUCKS. AND IT SHOULD STOP.
AND IF WISHES WERE FREAKIN’ HORSES … THE PEOPLE IN AFRICA, RIGHT NOW, WOULDN’T BEING KILLIN’ EACH OTHER OFF, EITHER, JUST BECAUSE THEIR “TRIBAL LINEAGES” WON’T GEL.
IS THAT ANY LESS “RACIAL” or “DISCRIMINATORY” OR “GENOCIDAL” … OR JUST SIMPLY ABOMINABLE ON PRINCIPLE, TOO??
Maybe not, but it’s sure as hell more tragic … especially when mothers’ nursing breasts are SLICED OFF — BUT ONLY AFTER they’re raped and beaten and tortured to within inches of their deaths — JUST so that they can’t feed their infants and continue their “race’s lineage” … and IF they survive that utterly despicable brutality, then, of course, their infants are usually killed before their eyes ANYWAY … so what does it matter, right?
THAT … THAT’S TRUE “DISCRIMINATION.”
No. That’s TRUE EVIL.
So maybe a little “sexual/racial discrimination” over HERE, in the U.S.? Pardon ME if I think that it’s mostly a litigious load of BULLSHIT if you can’t take those simply ignorant and WEAK people/entities on YOURSELF, and be DONE with it. Or, move ON to a place where you WON’T be treated thus … at least here, we HAVE that option. Black, white, Hispanic, woman, man, transvestite — ENOUGH.
We have choices about how we react to others’ ignorance and/or cruelty here, EVERY day. It’s up to US, then — not a “legal system” … unless we’re already DEAD, of course, and then if our families don’t avenge us, let our killers rot in prison IF they’re caught by our “venerable Officers Friendly”. Beyond that … those we cannot save, we’ve “gotta’ let the sea take them”.
And NONE of THAT costs a damned DIME on EITHER side.
BUT, I digress … just a little perspective on the “big, evil force of NASCAR/ISC” here.
Still … NASCAR/ISC is always wrong, Marc, GRIN … they’re just never as wrong as SOME entities out there, most of which I cannot believe ARE human in ANY way.
As for MEDIOTS? Sigh … believe me … I toss those bricks every chance I get already, lol … though, really, they’re more like gnats, so ya’ just need a little lavender essential oil, and they’ll fly around and around ya’ during a terrific hex hatch, but never bite because even a simple distilled FLOWER oil is distasteful to those mini-evil critters … hehe
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