Affirmative action policies challenged

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000 | 11:29 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTIC CITY -- A former pit manager at the Atlantic City Tropicana has filed a class action lawsuit against the casino in an attempt to overturn its affirmative-action policies.

In a federal lawsuit filed last week, John Rudolph claimed he lost his job in January 1999 because of the policies, the Press of Atlantic City reported. His lawsuit seeks to represent more than 300 people.

Rudolph claims that four of the five pit managers fired in that month were white males, while minority and female employees were retained. He also claims he was ordered to hire minority and female employees, was denied a promotion because of his gender and that other males in his department were passed over for promotion because of their gender. He claims he received "above-average" performance evaluations from his superiors.

Rudolph, 52, also claims the resort was attempting to force out older employees and replace them with younger employees. Rudolph wants the court to throw out the Tropicana's affirmative action policies and also seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

In November, a U.S. appeals court ordered an end to affirmative action policies in place at Resorts Atlantic City, saying the regulations weren't in place to remedy past or present discrimination or in response to past segregation. That ruling caused the New Jersey Casino Control Commission to begin reviewing its affirmative action regulations.