Originally published July 10, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 13, 2007 at 12:04 PM
E-mail article
Print viewVivas wins suit against Fresno St.
Lindy Vivas, a former Fresno State volleyball coach, was awarded $5.852 million in damages Monday by a jury that ruled the school discriminated...
PREV
TOMAS OVALLE / AP
Lindy Vivas, right, former Fresno State volleyball coach pictured in 2004, was awarded $5.852 million by a jury Monday.
FRESNO, Calif. — Lindy Vivas, a former Fresno State volleyball coach, was awarded $5.852 million in damages Monday by a jury that ruled the school discriminated against her.
Vivas, 50, had sued Fresno State for $4.1 million, alleging the school did not renew her contract in 2004 because of her perceived sexual orientation and her speaking up on behalf of female athletes.
Vivas had a 263-167 record in 14 seasons at Fresno State. She coached Washington for four seasons, from 1984 to 1987, and had a 72-60 record.
Fresno State officials said they would appeal. In a statement, they said, "We're extremely disappointed that the jury did not see that the university's actions in this matter were based solely on Ms. Vivas' job performance and her unwillingness to improve the volleyball program."
Vivas said, "The jury saw exactly what was happening. They [school officials] were targeting me, but what keeps getting lost in all this was there were 14 student-athletes who were caught in the crossfire."
The award, which took into account Vivas' back wages, future lost pay and emotional distress, is likely the largest granted to a coach suing for retaliation under Title IX, a federal law requiring gender equity, said her lawyer, Dan Siegel.
"Fresno State wants to be a big-time athletic power, but it has to start acting like one. That means treating men and women the same," Siegel said.
"This is a complete vindication of her and who Lindy is as a person, as a coach and what she had to live with as a result of their actions."
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
E-mail article
Print view
Digg
Newsvine
Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
Mora's words, Seahawks' losses reverberate loudly
WSU endures painful defeat at Arizona
Steve Kelley: Huskies have to learn to finish
Officiating has Sounders FC ready for rough-and-tumble finale
Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- Stormy weather to continue today in the Seattle area
- UCLA game thread
937 - Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer 389
- Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment 332
- Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect 286
- Decision day for health care in the House 193
- McGinn widens lead over Mallahan in Seattle mayoral race 183
- Schools emerge as new tactic in gay marriage votes 99
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA 91
- Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working 74
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman 71
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
- Practical Mac | With new features, Apple's MobileMe is worth the price
- H1N1 vaccine for high-risk group coming to King Co. pharmacies
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Movie review | 'An Education' you won't forget
