The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments January 30 on the merits of a $16.8-million verdict awarded in January 2002 to seven white female Atlanta–Fulton County Public Library workers who claimed they suffered from reverse discrimination. Fulton County filed an appeal in October.
U.S. Attorney Griffin Bell argued the multimillion-dollar verdict was “outrageous” and should be thrown out, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported January 31. He added that the workers were moved from their jobs in the downtown library according to a reorganization plan.
However, Atlanta attorney Mike Bowers told the three-judge panel that the verdict should be upheld because the library committed “rampant racial discrimination” against white employees. He countered that the reorganization was a “clear sham” and based on a document typed eight days after the transfers were made.
A decision by the appeals court is not expected for at least several weeks.
Posted February 3, 2003.