Woman avoids jail for contempt of court charge

Clinton Twp. resident says she still disagrees with settlement of case

A Clinton Township woman avoided jail last week when she appeared in front of a federal court judge on a contempt of court charge against her related to her lawsuit against her former employer, a Shelby Township furniture store.

Maria Vizzaccaro said she apologized to U.S. District Judge Shalina Kumar in the Flint courtroom, explaining she was traumatized by the case and issues related to it, and promised would show up for an April 18 hearing to sign the proposed settlement agreement.

Vizzaccaro was accused by the defendant’s attorneys and in part the judge of improperly and frequently contacting attorneys involved in the case and the judge’s staff.

She told The Macomb Daily she will say at the hearing she is signing the agreement, which is confidential, under duress because she does not agree with it and contends her attorney, who has since left the case, colluded with the defendant’s attorneys.

In her lawsuit, Vizzaccaro claims she was fired from her sales position at Bob’s Furniture, part of a chain, in July 2019, about two months after the store opened. She alleged racial and gender bias, retaliation and violation of her civil rights in her complaint.

Bob’s has denied the allegations.

Federal Judge Shalina Kumar ruled the case was settled, but Vizzaccaro said she never agreed to the confidential deal reached by her attorney.

Vizzaccaro, who is white, said she was a top salesperson but became the target of racial and gender-related remarks, particularily from a male manager who has since left the store, after becoming aware she was in a long-term relationship with a Black man.

She also alleged bias against other black employees and customers resulting in several Black employees leaving the store.

In addition, she claimed Black customers were discouraged from shopping at the store by the manager.

Vizzaccaro’s former coworker, Alethea Ingram, 64, of Clinton Township, who is Black and worked there for four to five months in 2021, backed Vizzaccaro’s claims.

A second former Black employee, Lazetta Coleman Elliott, 62, of Sterling Heights, said she and other Blacks were discouraged from working there although she was not subjected to any outward racist remarks or behavior. She said Black customers were automatically classified as credit risks.