Assemblyman’s wife to receive $49,900 in deal with CCSN

Jennifer Knight

Friday, April 4, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

The university system has quietly settled a discrimination lawsuit filed by the wife of Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-North Las Vegas, her lawyer said Thursday.

Zelda Williams will receive $49,900 from the University and Community College System of Nevada for damages after a community college employee uttered a racial slur about her in 2001.

Had the settlement amount been $100 more, UCCSN lawyers would have had to seek approval from the state Board of Examiners, composed of Gov. Kenny Guinn, Secretary of State Dean Heller and Attorney General Brian Sandoval -- all Republicans.

Although terms were reached last week, Wendell Williams said Thursday that he did not know the lawsuit had been settled.

"I haven't talked to my wife in a couple of days," he said.

Williams also said his position as chairman of the Assembly Education Committee should have no bearing on his wife's receipt of the money.

"It's actually her case," Williams said. "I've been purposely trying to stay out of it. Besides, the last time I checked this was the United States of America. It's not Afghanistan. I cannot tell her what to do with that money or anything else."

Williams emphasized that he and his wife keep their financial affairs separate. Because Nevada is a community-property state, however, the settlement belongs to both of them.

The case stemmed from an incident at the Community College of Southern Nevada on Aug. 17, 2001, when Zelda Williams, then a student, was sitting in a lobby waiting for John Cummings, the college's government liaison and adviser to the college president. Cummings is also a friend of Wendell Williams.

According to Cummings' account, Zelda Williams, who is black, was sitting in Cummings' office when Mike Meyer, then associate vice president for athletics and development, said Williams would likely be late for their appointment because "niggers are always late."

Meyer issued a public apology, resigned from his position and is no longer affiliated with the college.

Zelda Williams claimed the comments caused her emotional distress. She filed a $1.5 million discrimination lawsuit that also sought compensation for emotional damages. A federal court dismissed the discrimination suit; the settlement is payment for emotional damages.

UCCSN lawyers declined to comment on the details of the case Thursday. Zelda Williams, who works in social services for Clark County, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Her attorney, Richard Segerblom, said the ordeal caused Williams a great deal of stress and that the settlement is a good deal for UCCSN lawyers who would have faced an uphill battle in court.

"I just think that the university (system) was fortunate to settle the case," Segerblom said. "They were faced with outrageous attorneys' fees and an administrator who was a bad actor. He made some really horrendous comments and the evidence showed that this wasn't the first time he had made those types of comments."

The money will be paid out of the community college's budget.

Although the settlement comes during a statewide budget crunch and at a time the college is particularly strapped for money, Cummings said it closes a chapter for the school.

"I'm just glad it's over," Cummings said. "It has made CCSN better aware that we need to place a greater emphasis on diversity training."