Arkansas Jury Sides with City in Employee Discrimination Suit

A jury has cleared Little Rock, Ark., of claims that city officials discriminated in their salary considerations for a black diversity manager.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the all-white jury determined that the city didn’t base its 2010 decision to not increase Ericka Benedicto’s pay on the fact that she is black.

Benedicto had sued the city, alleging she was discriminated against when the pay of a white manager in her same department and salary grade was increased to that of another white manager.

She said the city isn’t consistent in applying its policies. She asked for back pay and for the city’s equity review procedures to be audited.

Benedicto represented herself in court and said after the trial that she was unsure whether she’d appeal the decision.

Topics Lawsuits