LONG BEACH : Instructor, University Settle Layoff Lawsuit

An instructor at Cal State Long Beach has agreed to drop a lawsuit accusing the university of racial and religious bias in canceling his Indian philosophy class last year and laying him off.

The university agreed to pay the instructor, Srinivasa Murthy, an undisclosed sum as part of the settlement, a university spokeswoman said.

Murthy’s lawsuit contended that the university’s philosophy department terminated his two-year contract early and denied him a permanent position because he is an Indian and Hindu. Murthy has taught Hinduism part-time in the religious studies department since the layoff.

University officials attribute the layoff to last year’s budget crisis, during which many teaching contracts were terminated.

Under the settlement, Murthy may reapply for a teaching position in the philosophy department, said Jeffrey Phillips, a state deputy attorney general who represented the university. However, university officials will not say whether Murthy has reapplied to teach in either department. Murthy and his attorney could not be reached for comment.