Ex-Versace employee accuses store of having 'black code'

An ex-employee of a Versace store is airing some of the brand's dirty laundry.

According to a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California in Alameida county, a former employee of the Versace store in Pleasanton, California alleged that the store had a special "code" that was used whenever black customers entered the store.

During his training, the plaintiff, a 23-year-old man who is also one-quarter African-American, said managers would say "D410" to alert the arrival of a black customer. D410 is the code the company uses to label black shirts. The plaintiff also alleged that after he revealed to his training manager that he was also black, the other employees treated him differently.

In addition to the alleged racial discrimination, the former employee is suing for unpaid wages and not being able to take breaks for meals and rest and for wrongful termination. According to The Huffington Post, the suit is actually a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of people who are “similarly situated and the general public."

Versace denies the accusations and has petitioned for dismissal of the lawsuit.