John Elway's Los Angeles Auto Dealership Targeted In Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES -- A former employee is alleging workers were routinely subjected to racial discrimination at a California car dealership partially owned by former Denver Broncos star John Elway.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, a former sales manager at John Elway's Manhattan Beach Toyota alleges he and other minority employees were denied promotions and opportunities based on their race.

Timothy Sandquist says he didn't get a promotion he deserved despite eight years of successful employment because he is black. He was instead made to work the job without earning the title or a raise.

Sandquist alleges the dealership's general manager used ethnic slurs against black, Latino and Middle Eastern employees.

A lawyer for the dealership, James McDonald, says the lawsuit appears to have numerous inaccuracies and the allegations don't appear to have merit.

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Comments

[oscar329]

10:51 AM on 01/12/2012

Everything these days is "racist and discriminatory".
I had a job before this one I have where I was told "i do not do business with people like you". While most people I commented about the episode claimed to be a racist comment, I happen to think that first, that lady was very honest in her approach; second, she has the right to like or dislike anything or any one she choses to.
Now, let's talk about me, I had two options, get mad and claim all kinds of nonsense OR stay in course, give her the respect she deserves (once again, I much rather have people's honesty than being lied to) by not directing at her my requests for business and keep on visiting her office.
Eventually she and I did business together, she still did not like me but we arrived to a common ground and she went on her way I did go to mine.
And so I have learned that if I THINK I am being "discriminated against" (I happen to think it is all in our heads) then I have two options: find a job where the owner is from the same race and background of mine OR set up a business of my own, otherwise... shut the heck up!
Sincerely, I

[3dtrix]

12:58 AM on 01/11/2012

Elway could hang tough in the pocket and sling a mean football - but he is as hard-right as Rush.

Sorry, but it's simply impossible to find a hard-case rightist who isn't also a bigot...

[Mailman]

09:54 AM on 01/12/2012

Sure there is Robert Byrd. He was a left winger and a KKK member.

[Don Stalvino]

12:07 AM on 01/11/2012

He isn't racist, quit throwing that epithet around or it will lose all meaning.

[Hugh Briggs]

03:54 PM on 01/11/2012

And you know this because of all the time you spend with him?

[Busterman]

12:07 AM on 01/11/2012

looking for a payday so he dose
not have to work anymore

[Hugh Briggs]

03:55 PM on 01/11/2012

Are you looking for your third grade teacher who taught you grammar and spelling?

[calisquare]

10:48 PM on 01/10/2012

Who knew horses could be racist?

[clearthinker16]

10:00 PM on 01/10/2012

He may own the company but his management there made those decisions. John should keep to running his mouth about how they should bench Tebow while jumping up and down when he wins. John he has one thing over you, he can find the end zone.

[thinkb4uleapII]

10:30 PM on 01/10/2012

"...John he has one thing over you, he can find the end zone."

Are you serious?

[clearthinker16]

09:33 AM on 01/11/2012

that was Elways biggest problem, he could drive them down field for field goals. That statement was not mine or original, they even made jokes about it.

[lronwalker]

09:46 PM on 01/10/2012

Cont., If your a black man and working a job that is racially bias against you are you going to stay there for 8 years? As a white man, I wouldnt want to work with people hating on me cause of my color, nor would I want to work with a bunch of white racists either. Elway was a part owner selling cars in L.A. for Xrist-sakes Ill bet there were quite a few black salespeople working there besides dude.

[oilfield]

12:00 AM on 01/11/2012

it will be entertaining when whites start suing black businesses too...

[butterfly218]

08:43 PM on 01/10/2012

It seems that people only keep what they need so why are there still racist ? Why do they " need racism , and what is the pay off for them ? The word racist , should not exist because planet Earth humans are only one race . The Human race . Why do they need the division ?

[Tim Moore]

08:26 PM on 01/10/2012

I am not sure if Mr.Ed is a racist, but he IS annoying to watch when the Broncos win.

[larrykat]

09:11 PM on 01/10/2012

Love it! And could not agree more. The Broncos appear to have the market cornered on irritating, sanctimonious QBs.

[MASH4077]

08:11 PM on 01/10/2012

Oh please (some of you) blog posters, get over the "I'm a poor white guy that is unfairly having to pay for the sins of my ancestors by seeing all these unqualified people cut in line for that pot of gold that should be mine" mentality. I live in a very white, conservative community and hear this pile of you-know-what from people all the time. And they don't compete with minorities for anything.

Anyone with a little bit of knowledge about US history should temper their anger about advantages, percieved or otherwise. As a white male I, my father, his father, and many generations before them have had advantages that minorities haven't had because of one reason - the color pigment of my skin! It sickens me to see the vitrolic hate that comes from SOME whites when an occassional advantage is given to someone else. They scream "reverse discrimination" like it's akin to murder. Hey, wake up and realize that now you've experienced a little dose of what it's like on a daily basis to be a minority in this country for the past 350+ years.

Just saying

[outoforder]

09:10 PM on 01/10/2012

While I am 100% for personal responsibility and 100% against taking handouts without attempting to help one’s self. All I can say to your comment is, well said.

[AngrymanT]

01:22 PM on 01/11/2012

What handouts? According to the guy, he's doing the job WITHOUT the Pay or Title! So if he can do the job, he should have the title and the pay! It happens all the time, to a lot of people. I know plenty of people mostly black but some white, who have had to train the people who are to eventually manage them instead of them being given the opportunity to do the job officially!

[Rdmptn]

12:51 AM on 01/11/2012

Wow! Fanned.

[X Williams]

07:47 PM on 01/10/2012

I've been there before.. I believe him. It's a difficult thing to sue. At my last job I was constantly praised for a job well done and always recognized "except" when it came to promotions. They all went to white guys who had less experience, education, and whose work was of lesser quality.. But the folks who ran the place were all white males so I guess they felt comfortably promoting white males..

[ellenst]

08:01 PM on 01/10/2012

Had that experience too; however, my employer didn't feel the impact until one of his competitors offered me a higher position at a substantially higher salary. The white girls couldn't handle my workload.

[oilfield]

12:02 AM on 01/11/2012

thats the way capitalism is supposed to work....do your best and if your employer wont notice, the next one will.

[inthedesert]

07:26 PM on 01/10/2012

WHY IS THIS ON THE LATINO VOICES PAGE HUFFPO? LMAO. It was a black guy who filed the suit. Should this not be on the Black Voices page????

[rclere]

07:23 PM on 01/10/2012

i am sorry, he actually looks like a used car salesman (or a horse)..

[wkingsolomon77]

07:43 PM on 01/10/2012

Every person should get a check for $897,000

[vgirl1]

07:58 PM on 01/10/2012

Except of course the suggester.

He should be discriminated against in that proposal.

[shbkyn]

07:17 PM on 01/10/2012

I have been casing John Elway out for quite sometime, and I had labeled his a racist.

[Rdmptn]

12:53 AM on 01/11/2012

Me too.

[mwr133]

06:58 PM on 01/10/2012

If I am a private business owner, I should be allowed to hire, promote, and fire anyone that I want to. After all it is MY business and this is a free country.

[Bert Dodson]

07:11 PM on 01/10/2012

If you want to put that statement on your letterhead, business card, all advertising, and the front door fine. Oh and describe who exactly you want to hire promote and fire. Oh and don't do business with the civil government wouldn't want any tax money from the people you don't want to hire getting mixed in with you special funds, and I say go for it

[mwr133]

07:37 PM on 01/10/2012

How about I hire the best candidate, fire the worst employees, and promote those who I think are responsible and the best fit for a management position. Race shouldn't matter and it wouldn't if I were in charge.

If there is a great salesman with a prickly personality and a decent salesman with a great personality. I would hire the guy #2 because being good with people is the most important role in handling people. There are many subjectives involved when making a decision like that, but when a minority gets passed over, the one's who are bitter always scream the same thing. It gets tiring.

[ellenst]

07:13 PM on 01/10/2012

And as a private business owner, I should have a right to refuse to allow my best employee to provide services for you.

[mwr133]

07:38 PM on 01/10/2012

I would agree with that. And I can go to another vendor. What is wrong with that?