Journalist Settles Bias Suit With Tribune

San Diego Tribune editorial writer Lynne Carrier has reached an out-of-court settlement of her sexual harassment and job discrimination lawsuit against the Union-Tribune Publishing Co. and Tribune Editor Neil Morgan.

In exchange for dropping the lawsuit, the company will pay Carrier a sum, the amount of which she is prohibited from disclosing until Feb. 2, when the Union and Tribune will merge and Carrier will leave the paper, Carrier said.

Carrier also received what she called “letters of apology” from Morgan and Douglas Joseph Holley, her former supervisor on the Tribune editorial page, who also was named in the Superior Court lawsuit. Carrier claimed that Holley fostered a locker room atmosphere in the workplace and repeatedly made sexually suggestive jokes and comments.

Hal Fuson, general counsel for the Copley Press, disagreed with Carrier’s description of the letters as apologies. “It depends on your interpretation of ‘apology.’ They don’t use the word.”

Both Holley, who now works for Texas Gov. Ann Richards, and Morgan declined comment, referring questions to their attorneys.

Under the terms of the settlement, reached Dec. 16 with the aid of a mediator, Carrier cannot apply for work at any Copley newspaper.

Carrier filed her lawsuit in November, 1990, claiming that she was sexually harassed by Holley, that she was paid less than male co-workers and that she was passed over for promotion. At the time, she was the only woman editorial writer on The Tribune.

The suit contended that, when Carrier complained about Holley’s behavior, Morgan “berated” her, placed a letter of discipline in her personnel file and made clear that accusations of sexual discrimination “were unwelcome.”