County seeks overturning of verdict

J. Craig Anderson

Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006 | 7:10 a.m.

Contrary to a federal jury's verdict, Clark County commissioners insist that McCarran International Airport managers did not retaliate against a black employee who complained of discrimination.

The commission voted 6-1 to ask an appeals court to overturn the jury's decision in 2004 to award $244,000 to airport worker Michael Jordan. Jurors found that managers had retaliated against Jordan by refusing to promote him after he complained of racial and religious discrimination.

Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates cast the sole vote against the appeal, arguing that the county might save money in the long run by simply paying the damages.

The lawsuit, filed in 1999, claimed that promotions at McCarran are handled in a discriminatory manner. The lawsuit said that nine of the top 12 managers at the airport were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jordan's attorney, Kathleen England, also argued that the bulk of top management was white, while lower-level positions tend to be held by blacks.

But U.S. District Judge Philip Pro threw out the religious discrimination claim before trial, and jurors ultimately rejected Jordan's claim of racial discrimination. But the jury did find that airport leaders had retaliated against Jordan by refusing to promote him after he complained of discrimination.

Attorney Bruce Young, who represents the airport, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Lee Thomson said money isn't the only consideration in an appeal. If county lawyers believe the verdict is wrong, they want to appeal, he said.

"You don't hand out money to someone if you don't believe they're entitled to it," he said.

J. Craig Anderson can be reached at 259-2320 or at craig@lasvegassun.com.<