U.C. Lab settles lawsuit over racial bias Against Asians -$1.2 Million
/The University of California has reached a tentative settlement with
hundreds of Asian-American scientists and engineers who filed a
class-action suit alleging discrimination in pay and promotion at
UC-run Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Pending approval by Alameda
County Superior Court, UC has agreed to pay nearly $1.2 million to
settle the suit filed in 2001 that includes 460 lab workers. The
settlement does not require the lab or UC to admit to any
discrimination or wrongdoing. "This is in the best interest of both
sides because both wanted to avoid a long, expensive legal process,"
said lab spokeswoman Lynda Seaver. The settlement would mark the end of
a long battle over racial bias at the lab that came to a boil in 1999
during a security crackdown at the national labs after Los Alamos lab
employee Wen Ho Lee was fired and accused of spying for China. [more]
