Deukmejian Signs Bill to Settle Bias Suit
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After a five-year legal battle, Gov. George Deukmejian on Monday signed into law a bill that spends nearly $1.4 million to settle the case of a teacher who claimed that she was fired from Camarillo State Hospital because of her race.
A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said that the teacher, Betty Andrews of Los Angeles, could receive the money in about eight weeks. Andrews is expected to get about $1.1 million and her attorney the rest.
Andrews, who is black, was fired in September, 1982, after teaching mentally ill students for 17 years. But she filed suit, and last November a federal court jury awarded Andrews $2.5 million. However, both sides hammered out a compromise settlement, in part, to avoid a lengthy and costly appeal.
The Legislature last month approved a measure by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) appropriating the funds for Andrews.
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