HFS Says Avis Lawyer Knew of Complaints

HFS Inc. said a top lawyer for its Avis Inc. rental car unit knew as early as 1992 of complaints of racial bias against an Avis franchisee and took no action. According to preliminary results from a review by law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Avis General Counsel John Lynch was notified of racial bias complaints against Avis franchisee John Dalton by other company executives. HFS commissioned the review. HFS’ disclosure of the findings may require the Parsippany, N.J.-based company to disclose further sensitive information about what top Avis executives knew of the bias complaints, said a discrimination lawyer not affiliated with the case.