Examiners reject UNLV’s plea for aid: University stuck with suit settlement

Wednesday, July 11, 2001 | 11:13 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Examiners Tuesday turned a deaf ear to the pleas of UNLV, which wanted help in paying a $100,000 out-of-court settlement to a math professor who was never hired.

Gov. Kenny Guinn and Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said UNLV agreed to pay the $100,000 and it should stand by its commitment, rather than coming to the state.

Anita Singh applied to UNLV for a math professor's job in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996. She was an associate math professor for six years at the New Mexico Technical Institute. But she never was granted an interview.

She filed suit in federal court, claiming discrimination because she is an Indian and a woman. Singh wanted $300,000 and a position as a full professor with tenure.

But negotiators settled for $150,000 and no hiring offer. At the court settlement conference, Stan Miller, claims manager for the state, told Magistrate Peggy Leen he could commit the state to paying only $50,000. It was then that UNLV President Carol Harter agreed to pick up the other $100,000.

But more than a week later, the university system petitioned the state to pick up the full tab. University Counsel Tom Ray said the system pays premiums into the tort claims fund, which is supposed to make these payments.

Ray said UNLV was forced into making the $100,000 commitment or the suit would not have been settled.

Ray told the board that if it did not approve the $100,000 from the state, "We don't have a settlement. We go to trial. It is a difficult case."

"The exposure is far greater than $150,000 at trial," Ray said. He added that Singh, although never interviewed, could establish a case of discrimination at trial.

Guinn and Del Papa questioned how a discrimination case could be brought when the woman was never even interviewed. Del Papa said there are hundreds of applications for jobs and not everybody gets interviewed.

Guinn worried a precedent would be set under this settlement for others who are not interviewed, saying this is a case where a woman "applied and was not interviewed and is now walking away with $150,000."

"This is not good for us," Guinn said.

Guinn said he has interviewed thousands of people over the past 35 years and that this was the first time he had ever heard of a case in which a suit was filed for not being interviewed.

The governor also said the Board of Regents must set the guidelines.