Discrimination Suit Against WKU Dismissed

August 06, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - Warren Circuit Judge Steve Wilson has dismissed a discrimination suit filed against Western Kentucky University by a former employee.
           
Wilson granted a motion for directed verdict on Monday in favor of WKU in the case of Ingrid Woods. Woods claimed she was denied a promotion because she is Hispanic.
           
“Because the Court has now heard all of the proof by the Plaintiff, it can reach only one conclusion, that the actions of the Defendant (WKU), do not raise themselves to the level of proof required by the Kentucky Civil Rights Act or the rules of civil procedure to give this matter to a jury,” Wilson wrote in his ruling.
           
Greg Stivers, a partner in Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle and Van Zant who handles WKU’s litigation, said he was pleased with the ruling.
           
“Ms. Woods had three years to work on this case, then spent three full days presenting proof to the jury.  At the conclusion, Judge Wilson found that she had not presented one scrap of evidence of discrimination,” Stivers said. “Given the fact that the person she accused of discrimination was the same person who recruited and promoted her, it is especially satisfying to have the Court conclude that there was ‘no proof of discrimination either in its ugliest or most subtle form.’”

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