A Kenosha car dealership is facing a federal lawsuit alleging that its managers threatened, disciplined, and ultimately fired Black employees who dared to report racial harassment to human resources. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the case against Rohr-Kenosha Motors Inc., which does business as Kenosha Nissan, accusing the company of violating federal civil rights law by retaliating against workers who spoke up.
The EEOC formally filed the case, captioned EEOC v. Rohr-Kenosha Motors Inc. d/b/a Kenosha Nissan, as Case No. 2:26-cv-01414 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Tuesday, according to the EEOC. As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the complaint alleges that a white sales manager assigned Black employees to work in the back of the office, called them “slow” and “lazy,” compared a Black employee to an animal, and assaulted a Black employee — all according to the lawsuit's allegations.
The complaint also alleges that the dealership's general manager planned to retaliate against employees who reported harassment as early as February 2024. According to the lawsuit, the general manager told staff that whoever went to human resources was “done” and vowed to “make your life a living hell” if they complained. He also allegedly said he was “watching all of your [expletive]” and that he was “going back to being Diablo [the devil].” None of the individual managers named in these allegations are identified by name in the public filing, and the lawsuit similarly does not name the employees involved.
Complaints Followed by Swift Discipline, Lawsuit Says
Once employees reported their racial-harassment complaints, according to the lawsuit, Kenosha Nissan management changed office policies and work schedules within days. The Journal Sentinel's report notes that management allegedly targeted the employees who had reported harassment and disciplined workers for minor infractions — some of which, the lawsuit claims, were fabricated altogether.
One detail from the complaint, cited by HRD America, describes a Black employee with no prior disciplinary history receiving three formal write-ups within six days shortly after lodging harassment complaints with human resources. The lawsuit alleges the dealership ultimately fired an employee who had complained about harassment, either because of the complaint or because of his race, or both. Other employees reportedly resigned because they feared they would be fired next, according to the lawsuit.
Per HRD America, the EEOC's complaint outlines three specific legal counts under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: unlawful retaliation resulting in constructive discharge, retaliatory firing of a worker who complained, and firing that same worker because of his race. Title VII prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees who oppose discriminatory practices or take part in discrimination proceedings, according to the EEOC.
Federal Agency Says Case Followed Failed Settlement Talks
Federal records show the EEOC only filed suit after completing an administrative investigation and attempting a mandatory pre-litigation conciliation process that failed to produce a settlement, the agency says. Acting EEOC General Counsel Catherine Eschbach issued a statement on the filing, emphasizing that retaliating against workers who report discrimination violates federal law and discourages other employees from coming forward.
The EEOC's Chicago District Office, which also maintains area offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis, holds regional jurisdiction over federal employment discrimination claims originating across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Retaliation claims remain the single most frequent basis for workplace discrimination charges nationwide, accounting for 47.8% of all 88,531 federal charges filed in fiscal year 2024 and continuing as the top category in fiscal year 2025, according to Gen Re.
Dealership's Ownership and Prior Legal History
Better Business Bureau records identify the entity operating the dealership as Rohr-Kenosha Motors Inc., listing Bob Rohrman as chief executive officer and Benny Hanna as general manager. Court dockets also show the dealership previously faced individual federal civil rights litigation in the same district, in a case captioned Okoronkwo v. Rohr Kenosha Motors Inc., filed in April 2024, according to PacerMonitor.
The Journal Sentinel reported that it contacted Kenosha Nissan by phone and email Thursday but did not receive an immediate response. It remains unclear how the dealership plans to respond to the federal complaint, including whether it will contest the underlying factual allegations or seek to resolve the case through a consent decree.
