Four employees have sued Rivian in separate lawsuits this year over allegations they were harassed, in some cases by top executives, and that the company’s leadership did little to address their concerns, according to a TechCrunch review of court records.
Rivian has also reached settlements in three other harassment and discrimination cases, TechCrunch has learned.
Lawsuits aren’t uncommon in the automotive industry, particularly with large companies that operate factories and multiple facilities. But the allegations contained in these previously unreported lawsuits against Rivian, and the ones that it has settled, suggest the company is still sorting out its internal culture – a culture that was thrust into the spotlight three years ago when it went public.
Two of the lawsuits, filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court, center around Rivian chief designer Jeff Hammoud, who has been with the company since 2017.
One filed by former color, material, and finish team director Elizabeth Curran in February 2024 accuses Hammoud of being “prone to irrational outbursts of anger,” incidents she describes as being “often directed at the women in leadership.”
The other, filed by sculptor Nathan Facciolla in October 2024, alleges Hammoud created a hostile work environment and called Facciolla’s wife “a hooker” because she worked a night shift at a hospital.
Both employees claim they reported Hammoud to HR and that he was not disciplined.
A lawyer for Hammoud declined to comment.
A third lawsuit, filed in federal court last month by line worker Jeremiah Powe, accuses recently-departed chief operating officer Frank Klein of assault and battery after he allegedly pulled Powe to the ground for violating the company’s dress code. Powe told local law enforcement that he believed Rivian didn’t properly investigate the alleged incident, according to a police report obtained by TechCrunch.
Lawyers for Powe declined to comment. Klein declined to comment and directed TechCrunch’s questions to Rivian.
Rivian was also sued by a production worker at its Normal, Illinois factory in February 2024. Nicole Hawkins filed a lawsuit in the Eleventh Judicial Court in McLean County, Illinois claiming she was physically harassed and threatened by a coworker. When she repo …