OTHER NEWS - May 27, 1996

Hertz Faces Discrimination Suit: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charges in a federal court lawsuit that Hertz Corp. engaged in discrimination when it fired two mentally retarded men in 1994. The suit seeks back pay, compensatory and punitive damages and the reinstatement of Kenneth Miller, 56, and Donald Klem, 39, said Paul S. Miller, EEOC commissioner, who is no relation to Kenneth Miller. The men were hired as seasonal workers to perform janitorial work. Because of their disabilities, the men worked with job coaches, provided at no cost to Hertz. The coaches were reportedly observed hugging each other. Paul Miller said that rather than resolve the situation with the coaches, Hertz fired employees who were doing satisfactory work. A spokeswoman for Park Ridge, N.J.-based Hertz said the company had no comment on the firings or the lawsuit.