Woman awarded $2.1 million in discrimination case

[proud2BlibKansan]

By GLENN E. RICE
The Kansas City Star

A Platte County jury today awarded $2.1 million to a woman who says she was passed over for a municipal judgeship because the Kansas City Council wanted to hire a minority applicant.

Melissa Howard, a Clay County assistant prosecutor, was one of three finalists for the position vacated by Marcia Walsh in 2006. Howard maintained that the council did not choose her because it wanted a racial minority candidate to replace Walsh.

“The jury completely understood that it is absolutely illegal and inexcusable to refuse to consider people for employment because of the color of their skin,” said Mark Jess, the attorney who represented Howard.

Galen Beaufort, city attorney for Kansas City, said the city plans to appeal the jury verdict.

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/559612.html