NASHVILLE, TENN. — A federal court in Tennessee dismissed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Tyson Fresh Meats last week that was filed by a Black mechanic who formerly worked at the Goodlettsville, Tenn., plant.

In the case, Carlos Davis said he was promoted to “lead” position at the facility and received a raise. However, Tyson later found that Davis was not classified correctly due to a clerical mistake.

After that, in March 2018, the company lowered his pay, but did stop a plan for them to request Davis repay the excess salary he already received.

Following the error, Davis alleged he was demoted, and it was motivated by complaints that he made alleging another worker, Jose Garcia, was racially harassing him. Also, Davis alleged that the plant manager was targeting him with disciplinary measures.

Still, the court dismissed all these claims on Nov. 4 in the US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

“The court finds that there is no material factual dispute and that the plaintiff cannot point to any evidence in the record that calls into doubt the veracity of the defendant's legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for reducing the plaintiff's title and pay in March 2018, five or six weeks after he was ‘promoted,’” the court wrote in its dismissal. The defendant (Tyson Fresh Meats) is entitled to summary judgment in its favor on the plaintiff's race discrimination claim.

In the ruling the Tennessee court also found that Tyson immediately opened an investigation regarding Davis’ claim of racial harassment by Garcia.

The company issued a written warning against Garcia and order that he take retraining on harassment and discrimination. He resigned before being reprimanded.

Tyson also investigated a death threat that Davis received via Facebook. That co-worker was suspended and reported to the police.