A Peachtree

City electronics manufacturer is petitioning a federal court judge to

strictly limit the claims of several employees who have filed suit against

it for alleged racial discrimination.

In a petition

filed with the Newnan Division of the U.S. District Court several weeks

ago, Matsushita Communications Industrial Corporation said the complaints

are overly broad, which makes it difficult if not impossible for the company

to investigate.

Attorneys for

MCIC also allege that some of the complaints have not been investigated

thrown out of court, particularly regarding claims of retaliatory harassment.

MCIC manufactures

some electronic products under the Panasonic brand name.

The suit alleges

that MCIC passed each employee over several times for promotions in favor

of a white worker who was less qualified.

The company

wants the claims of one of its ex-employees, Thomas Green, to be thrown

out of the suit because he hasn't worked with the company for several

years and the statute of limitations on his claims have expired.

Matsushita

employees Frederick Butler, Regie Stevens, Mohammed Warsame and Green

are seeking to have the suit elevated to class-action status.

In December

1999, the EEOC found "reasonable cause to believe black employees

were discriminated against because of their race with regard to promotional

opportunities at or above the level of technician A," at MCIC, the

suit states.

The employees

also allege that the company did not post all available positions, a tactic

supposedly used to promote white employees over more qualified African-American

applicants.

"Even

when the positions were posted, white managers often 'pre-select' white

employees to fill open positions," the suit alleges.

In the suit,

Warsame claims black employees were written up for safety violations and

tardiness while other white workers were not cited for similar violations.

The employees

hope to recover back pay, front pay along with compensatory and punitive

damages.

MCIC wants

the court to "sharply limit" the claims that may be raised in

the civil lawsuit. Many of the claims made in the suit are "so vague

and ambiguous that MCUSA cannot reasonable respond to them," a brief

states.

The matter

has been scheduled for a hearing Thursday, Jan. 25 at 2:30 p.m.