Car Dealership Settles Anti-Semitism Lawsuit

Fletcher Jones Motor Cars Inc. has settled a lawsuit with a Newport Beach couple who alleged that a salesman at the Mercedes-Benz dealership used defamatory language with them.

“The lawsuit was resolved to our satisfaction,” said Robert Groux, who with his wife, Risa, filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court last summer. “We’ve released all claims against Fletcher Jones.”

Fletcher “Ted” Jones Jr. said Friday: “We are pleased that we resolved our differences.”

Neither party would disclose the terms of the settlement.

In a written statement signed last week by the Grouxes and Jones, the dealership apologized to the couple. The company also made a contribution to the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation, the statement said, and endowed a lecture series at the Jewish Community Center in Costa Mesa.

The salesman accused in the lawsuit of making the derogatory comments has been reprimanded and disciplined, according to the statement. In addition, the car dealer will send its employees to the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s “Tools for Tolerance,” a sensitivity training program designed to combat prejudice, according to the statement.

In their lawsuit, the Grouxes alleged that a salesman screamed at them, “Don’t be such a Jew!” after the couple said they wanted to consider the price of two Mercedes-Benzes they were thinking of buying.

The couple stated in their lawsuit, filed Aug. 29, that the disparaging remarks did not end when they informed the salesman that Risa Groux is Jewish. The lawsuit alleged the dealership violated the Grouxes’ civil rights and discriminated against them.

In the joint statement, the dealership said its policy is to be courteous and polite to all customers and to prohibit use of profanity or any other action that might tarnish its reputation.