An reckless, shocking, and insensitive gestural demonstration by a manager leading a PulteGroup Atlanta division operations meeting in mid-November 2019 anchors a new lawsuit filed last week by three Black former PulteGroup employees who accuse their former employer of breaking laws that prohibit racial discrimination in the workplace and apply to the role of managers in creating, condoning, or tolerating a hostile work environment.

Documents supporting the allegations include photographs taken from the 2019 meeting, in which a division vice president of construction operations used a noose as a team meeting prop.

PulteGroup representatives have called the images themselves "despicable" and the behavior "unacceptable and inexcusable."

A press statement from Lansing, MI-based attorneys Zausmer Law Firm at the time of the May 4, 2023 filing states:

We have photographic evidence that’s never been made public,” alleged lead counsel Mark Zausmer, “I’ve never seen anything so clear and egregious.”

Word of the charges came to light only a day after another lawsuit, this one from a PulteGroup investor who claims rights to information, data, records, and discussion agendas connected with the dismissal in December 2022 of a senior level PulteGroup executive Brandon Jones for violating the company's code of conduct and business ethics.

This latest lawsuit again names Jones as part of a chain of command each complaint links by association to PulteGroup's executive suite.

A statement we received today from a PulteGroup press representative in response to our request for comment:

This lawsuit uses a 2019 incident at a local division meeting to infer our Company endorses a workplace culture that perpetuates unlawful and racist conduct.  Nothing could be further from the truth. As a Company committed to diversity and inclusion, the behavior referenced in this lawsuit is unacceptable and inexcusable. It was investigated and addressed."

Over the past few weeks, there have been multiple legal filings and press releases directed against our Company. These actions appear to be part of an organized and ongoing campaign designed to discredit our board, our management team, and all the dedicated people who help make PulteGroup an amazing place to work. Regardless, we remain committed to a culture that welcomes all and provides an equal opportunity for personal growth and success to every member of the PulteGroup team."

PulteGroup dismissed long-time operations up-and-comer Brandon Jones after it learned of Jones' personal involvement in a social media "smear" effort intended to discredit founder William J. Pulte's grandson Bill Pulte.

[Disclosure: Bill Pulte's Pulte Capital group is a "Friend" partner of The Builder's Daily, which means a financial payment in return for an agreed-upon level of non-editorial recognition (i.e. corporate logo and website acknowledgment). This agreement – from December 2021 to December 2022 – has no bearing or impact on editorial content.]

Bill Pulte's stated mission – apart from running his capital investment company – is to work to preserve his grandfather's and his family's name and legacy, which often means supporting PulteGroup team members and many other individuals and families in ongoing humanitarian efforts.

At times, these interests – focused on growing the Bill Pulte legacy and what it means -- may and do run at odds with how strategic corporate executive stewards running a Fortune 500 corporation that bears his family's name lead the firm, and conducts it financially, operationally, and as a national and multi-local community presence.

This is a challenge for both the corporation and its strategic leaders – whose priority focus is on shareholder value, homebuying and renting customers, team members and business partners – and Bill Pulte, who devotes time, money, and focus on building his grandfather's name, reputation, and impact.

What ongoing disputes come down to and who has what to gain from ongoing legal contests remains to be seen.