Racial harassment lawsuit filed against Gonnella Baking

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- A racial harassment lawsuit was filed against Gonnella Baking, a large Chicago-area baking company.

Gonnella is accused of failing to stop a pattern of disparaging comments about black employees at its Aurora facility.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit Thursday.

"We are a family business and treat our employees like family," Gonella said in a statement. "In this incident, there was an individual let go for documented cause. They have right to raise issues and we have right to defend ourselves which we intend to do vigorously."