Michigan brewing company reaches settlement in racial discrimination lawsuit

Michigan’s largest brewing company has reached a settlement in a yearlong racial discrimination lawsuit.

Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Co. announced Thursday that a settlement had been reached with former Detroit taproom events and promotions manager Tracy Evans. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

{mosads}In his lawsuit, Evans alleged that Founders allowed “racist internal corporate culture” in its Detroit taproom and that he was fired by the brewing company after he had filed complaints to human resources about racist staff members, USA Today reports.

Last Friday, Founders co-founder Dave Engbers reportedly said he was confident that Founders would win the lawsuit. 

On Thursday, his tune changed in a joint statement with fellow co-founder Mike Stevens.

“We are pleased to settle this case and focus on the future,” the pair said in the statement.

They continued: “Significantly, we are committed to moving the cause of diversity and inclusion forward for Founders. We want every employee to feel valued, respected and safe. We abhor discriminatory action of any type and believe that beer should bring people together and not divide.”

Evans, in the same statement, said that while he didn’t want to “say too much” on the situation, he noted that he wanted people “to know the power we have when we step forward and make ourselves heard.”