Jackson Free Press

[Verbatim statement tonight:] Jackson, MS (March 31, 2009). Jackie Williams and Renna Fisher, African American principals of Fish & Fisher, a ten-year old construction company, have filed a civil racial discrimination and conspiracy action against Toyota of North America, the State of Mississippi Development Authority, and the Governor of the State of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Western Division.

The legal action claims that Fish & Fisher, Inc., a Mississippi Corporation located in Jackson, MS, was denied the opportunity to bid on the Toyota Plant construction project in Blue Springs, MS, as a prime contractor. "Toyota North America, with the aid and assistance of the State of Mississippi's Development Authority, held a closed bid for white-only prime contractors," stated Byron Perkins, attorney for the plaintiffs. "The bid process was racially discriminatory and is in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, codified at 42 USC § 1981," Perkins added.

Toyota and the State of Mississippi opened a bidding process for a forty-nine million dollar ($49,000,000.00) construction project; however, the bidding systematically excluded African American companies. Fish and Fisher, even though qualified and licensed by the State of Mississippi as a general contractor, was not given the opportunity to bid as a prime contractor. In addition, Fish and Fisher had been certified by the National Minority Council as a minority prime contractor, prior to this Toyota project.

L & T Construction, a white owned company, partnered with M & H Construction in order to meet the financial qualification as prime contractors and was awarded the contract. During the initial phase of the work, M& H Construction dropped out of the project; however, the contract was not rebid.

L & T Construction subcontracted with Fish & Fisher for six-million dollars to clear 500 acres of land and move 3.5 million cubic yards of dirt. It soon became evident that the contract was in trouble as work slowed down and equipment set idle on the construction site. Work on the project was intermittent over a period of time and payment to Fish & Fisher, from L & T, stopped. Fish & Fisher turned to Toyota for remedies to the situation but received no satisfaction.

Fish & Fisher have been teetering on the verge of insolvency. "It may as well have been 1960," says business owner Jackie Williams. "It was clear from the beginning that they didn't want us out there. We showed up every day ready, willing, and able to work; and most days we put in ten to twelve hours of hard work in intense conditions. We were on schedule, ahead of schedule, and according to Toyota, performed the finest work they had ever witnessed. While we were there, we were treated like second-class citizens, denied access to pertinent information, threatened, and eventually terminated. We were forced to defend ourselves against bogus allegations of financial mismanagement. It was said that we bought an airplane when we couldn't buy fuel for our pick-ups. We cannot do business without being paid – on time – for the work we do. No small business can survive like that," Ms. Williams continued.

"We owe everybody in Mississippi but we have managed to stay in business. We have gone through our personal financial resources and we are surviving by the grace of God and our belief that right will prevail," said Renna Fisher, president of Fish & Fisher. "We remain in business because we have a reputation of providing good work."

Previous Comments

ID

145421

Comment

What'd Toyota have to say? I doubt seriously the plant will be finished, these days.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-04-01T19:24:12-06:00

ID

145429

Comment

For that matter, was anyone from Toyota or L & T contacted for their side of the story? If so, did they decline to comment because of the litigation?

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-04-02T07:09:13-06:00

ID

145433

Comment

This was a statement from the people suing announcing it, as it says above: "verbatim statement" that came in last night. That automatically means that it's one side of a dispute.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-04-02T08:41:48-06:00

ID

145437

Comment

The people at Fish & Fisher are good people. Of this, I have no doubt. Unfortunately, they owe my company money too. Which shows how this kind of racism and discrimination has a major ripple effect through our whole community, black and white alike. This doesn't just happen to one person or a certain group. It is an attack on us all. I know from experience they do good work and have always managed their company well in as much as I could see as one of their vendors. I certainly hope they prevail in their action and my thoughts will be with Renna and Jackie and all of their employees.

Author

WMartin

Date

2009-04-02T09:17:50-06:00

ID

145439

Comment

This was a statement from the people suing announcing it, as it says above: "verbatim statement" that came in last night. That automatically means that it's one side of a dispute. I don't know what to think then until I've read from all sides of the issue. Until then its just one-sided rhetoric.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2009-04-02T09:30:41-06:00

ID

145442

Comment

Oh, it's just a press release. Gotcha.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-04-02T09:36:34-06:00

ID

145444

Comment

Of course that's true. But it's better to have the news than not–especially when "all sides" often won't comment. Too often, media allow one side to control what is reported by not commenting. In this case, though, it is "verbatim statement," which we do all the time–whether from Haley Barbour, Roger Wicker, Jim Hood, or various other people. We would also post a response verbatim. Too often media edit down what y'all get to see to a sound bite. The JFP hates sound bites. They are a disservice to the reader.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-04-02T09:39:08-06:00