PRESS RELEASE FEDERAL COURT JURY FINDS AGAINST THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IN DISCRIMINATION CASE

Today a federal court jury returned a unanimous verdict against the City of San Diego finding that its Lifeguard Service discriminates against women by failing to promote them. The case, Alison Terry v. City of San Diego, has been in trial since October 26, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (Case No. 06-cv-1459). The jury unanimously found discrimination under both state and federal law, including a finding that the City discriminates against all women in its lifeguard service. The jury awarded the former part-time (seasonal) lifeguard, Alison Terry, $100,000 in damages and found against the City on all counts of discrimination. Based on these findings, Ms. Terry will now request that the federal court enter injunctive relief and order the City to cease discriminating against women. We are very pleased with the verdict and that the City will now be required to stop discriminating against women in the Lifeguard Service, said Ms. Terry. While there are many great lifeguards in the service, upper management has permitted a discriminatory culture in which women have not been able to advance. Were not going to have to sit in the back of the bus any longer, she said. Ms. Terry was represented by attorney Michael Conger, who has also successfully sued the City in several pension cases. This verdict is the beginning of the end for the old boys club that has existed for decades in the Citys Lifeguard Service, Conger said. We will be asking the federal court to take stern measures to enjoin this discrimination which has festered far too long. For more information please call Michael Conger at (858) 205-3254.