Fallout from Fresno State's Multi-Million Dollar Cases
Valley Title IX advocate named Woman of the Year
Fresno State's Milutinovich honored for unwavering commitment to gender equity
The
California State Senate honored Diane Milutinovich, Associate Athletic
Director emeritus of California State University Fresno, as the
Sixteenth Senate District's Woman of the Year for her many
contributions to women's athletics and her unwavering fight for gender
equity in higher education. Milutinovich recently retired from Fresno
State after 27 years as a highly-respected coach and athletics
administrator. Her strong advocacy for gender equity ultimately led to
her removal from the athletics department, spurring charges of gender
discrimination and resulting in a $3.5 million settlement by the
University in 2007.
Linda L. Vivas, Fresno State's Women's Volleyball Coach also charged
the University with gender discrimination and won a $5.85 million
verdict setting a record for Title IX verdicts, which was later reduced to $4.52
million. Fresno State also is appealing the $4.52 million judgment.
In a third sex discrimination and retaliation case against Fresno State, the jury decided for former Fresno State's Women's Baskeball Coach Stacy Johnson-Klein ordering the University to pay $19.1 million to Ms. Johnson-Klein. That award was
later reduced to $6.62 million. Johnson-Klein accepted the reduced amount earlier this month, and the University indicated it was looking forward to a resolution.
Johnson-Klein is the third woman in the school's athletics department to sue for discrimination under Title IX and win.
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Reference: http://cbs.sportsline.com/ncaawbasketball/story/10674953/cbsnews