Seven former employees of African American descent have filed a federal lawsuit against Idaho-based Woodgrain Inc., alleging they were fired in retaliation for raising concerns about systemic racial discrimination at the company’s Aurora production facility.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Colorado, accuses the national millwork and door manufacturer of unequal pay, biased promotion practices, and failing to act after a White supervisor allegedly referred to Black employees as “monkeys.”

The plaintiffs named in the suit include Ron Lamb, Corey Tate, Darius Wynn, Darren Brown, Isaac Medlock, LaRay Smith, and Robert Simmons. All were terminated in January 2025, shortly after signing a petition alleging discrimination at the facility. The lawsuit brings claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

The plaintiffs worked in various roles, including warehouse and production management, delivery, and operations. Several had worked at the facility for years, including during its time under previous ownership as Trimco Millwork.

The Denver Gazette contacted representatives of both parties involved in the lawsuit, but neither provided comment at the time of publication.

Woodgrain acquired the Aurora facility in December 2023. Within a year, the plaintiffs allege concerns about race-based disparities escalated, culminating in the petition and the employees’ subsequent terminations.

The petition, signed by 21 employees in late December 2024 and early January 2025, described a “toxic and biased culture” at the facility and alleged discriminatory hiring, pay, and promotion practices.

Woodgrain Inc. is a leading North American manufacturer of doors, molding, and millwork, which reported approximately $2.5 billion in annual sales in 2023, according to the Woodworking Network’s FDMC 300 industry ranking. One of its core divisions, Woodgrain Millwork, generated about $990 million in revenue in 2025, according to data from LeadIQ.

According to court filings, Woodgrain said it aimed to “change the culture” at its Aurora facility after acquiring it in 2023, citing performance issues. But the plaintiffs allege that the “culture change” sidelined long-tenured workers of color, brought in less-experienced White hires, and dismissed concerns about unequal pay — all as a pretext for retaliating against those who spoke up.

The case also details allegations of racial discrimination through verbal abuse, including slurs and derogatory remarks. According to the complaint, Operations Manager Jay Moore told three Black employees they looked “like monkeys trying to f— a coconut,” a comment the plaintiffs describe as invoking a centuries-old racist trope, according to the lawsuit.

In another instance, Moore allegedly told a Black employee, “You motherf—ers can’t count,” a remark plaintiffs say reflected his contempt for long-tenured Black workers and his eagerness to replace them with new hires.

In a court-filed answer to the plaintiffs’ complaint, Woodgrain acknowledged that Moore made the “monkeys and coconut” comment but denied that it was racially motivated or intended as a slur. The company characterized it as a “poor choice of words” and denied that Moore acted with discriminatory intent. Woodgrain also disputed the claim that Moore said, “You motherf—ers can’t count,” and broadly denied that race played any role in hiring, pay, or termination decisions at the Aurora facility.

The plaintiffs are seeking back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and potentially reinstatement to their former jobs. They also request declaratory and injunctive relief to address what they describe as systemic discrimination at Woodgrain’s Aurora facility. In addition, they are asking the court to order the company to cover attorney’s fees and court costs.

As of now, no trial date has been set. The case has been assigned to a magistrate judge in U.S. District Court, with a scheduling conference set for Sept. 3 to determine deadlines for pretrial motions and initiate the discovery process.

The case is Lamb et al. v. Woodgrain Millwork Co., filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.