May 09, 2006

A new class action suit, filed in Miami by law firm Holtzman Equels, accuses Dell of discriminating against non-English speakers in its lending policies. According to Jessica Walker in the Daily Business Review, Juan Carlos Arteaga, a Miami businessman, was approved by Dell for a line of credit. But that approval was later withdrawn on the grounds (at least according to an internal Dell email that Mr. Arteaga could not "speak English and a non-English speaker can't personally guarantee an account for fear they may not understand the terms and conditions of the lease." This is a potenitally explosive suit, not merely because of Dell's deep pockets and high profile, but because it touches on the sensitive issues surrounding America's Hispanic population. Stay tuned.