A lawsuit filed on behalf of approximately 5,500 African-American employees of Lockheed Martin claims the company “engaged in a pattern or practice of employment discrimination” through its performance appraisal system. The lawsuit alleges African-American employees below the level of vice president received lower overall ratings on their annual performance reviews as compared to similarly situated white employees, which resulted in lower salaries, raises, and bonuses, fewer promotions, and lower retention rates. A tentative $22.8 million settlement of the lawsuit was rejected by the court in 2017.