School owner ordered to pay $15,000 for racial slur against painter in Brazil

A court in Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil, has ordered a private school owner to pay R$15,000 (approximately $2,800 USD) in moral damages to a painter. The painter alleged he was subjected to racial slurs during a dispute in August 2024. The court's decision, issued on May 19th and publicly disclosed on June 3rd, found that the school owner used racist expressions, including calling the painter "monkey," during an altercation. The incident occurred when dust from the painter's work on a building's facade accidentally settled on the owner's car. The painter claims the owner reacted aggressively, kicking his tools and hurling insults. The owner denied the racial nature of the offenses, stating it was a mere disagreement and counter-suing for being called "old" and "rich." Evidence, including images of physical aggression towards the painter's equipment and a rude gesture by the owner, supported the painter's claim. The judge noted the owner's admission that his account was "a bit outside the truth," undermining his defense. The court applied the National Council of Justice's Protocol for Judging with a Race Perspective, acknowledging that racial discrimination cases often lack clear evidence and that victims' accounts are crucial. The judge emphasized that calling a Black person a "monkey" violates human dignity and constitutes moral damage. The owner's role as an educational institution leader was deemed to exacerbate the offense, given the expected commitment to equality and respect. The R$15,000 award aims to address the offense's severity, the owner's financial standing, and serve a pedagogical purpose to deter future discrimination. The owner's counter-claim was dismissed. The ruling is subject to appeal.