Settlement in Race Case Underscores Commitment To Diversity at Mitsubishi Motors

            Agreement Ensures Equal Opportunity for All Employees

    NORMAL, Ill., March 29 U.S. District Court Judge Michael
M. Mihm has given preliminary approval to a settlement agreement in a class
action lawsuit alleging past acts of racial harassment and discrimination at
Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America.
    Attorneys for both sides said the settlement agreement underscores
Mitsubishi's commitment to a fair and racially sensitive workplace.
    "We are pleased we have been able to resolve this matter," said Patricia
C. Benassi, who represented the employees in the class action suit.  "It is
evident that things have changed for the better at MMMA thanks to the
leadership of Mr. Gilligan.  The mechanisms put in place under this agreement
will advance this progress even further."
    The lawsuit was brought on behalf of African-American and Hispanic/Latino
employees who worked at Mitsubishi's manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois.
Their complaints generally relate to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
charges originally filed in mid 1998.
    "We are committed not only to fixing problems that occurred in the past,
but to ensuring that no problems occur in the future," said Rich Gilligan,
MMMA's executive vice president and chief operating officer.
    "Working together in a fair and dignified workplace is important for both
the company and its employees," said Gilligan.  "Now that this case is
settled, we can move forward as a team to accomplish our goals and
objectives."

    The settlement agreement specifically:

    -- Resolves all claims in the class-action lawsuit alleging past acts of
       racial harassment and discrimination;

    -- Assures equal opportunity for all MMMA employees;

    -- Promotes compliance with existing MMMA policies, including its Zero
       Tolerance Policy regarding race and gender harassment;

    -- Establishes an expedited claims procedure for members of the settlement
       class;

    -- Appoints two independent monitors who will work with MMMA to ensure
       implementation of the agreement and validate MMMA's compliance.
       James E. Coleman, Jr. is a professor of law at Duke University.  Carol
       Hanson Posegate is a lawyer who has represented plaintiffs in
       employment discrimination cases in the U. S. District Court for the
       Central District of Illinois.


    "We welcome the opportunity to work with the monitors to ensure we truly
do have best practices for preventing racial harassment and discrimination,"
Gilligan said.

    Monetary terms of the class-action settlement include:

    -- An amount to be determined for eligible members of the class who file
       sworn claim forms;

    -- The 10 named plaintiffs have settled their own individual claims for an
       aggregate amount totaling approximately $1.4 million;

    -- $1.8 million to cover attorneys' fees and litigation costs
       for representing the entire class.

    The eligibility of claimants for compensation under the class action will
be determined by two Special Masters appointed under the settlement agreement.
Special Masters James E. Coleman Jr. and Hunter R. Hughes are experienced
mediators in the area of employment discrimination.
    In a separate action, Benassi indicated that two other cases -- Gillespie
and Warr -- involving additional individual plaintiffs have also been settled
on a confidential basis for undisclosed amounts.
    "It is evident that MMMA is making good progress through its Zero
Tolerance Policy and its Opportunity Programs Department, which monitors equal
opportunity in the workplace," Benassi said.