Jury Sides With Claim of Reprisal

A jury this week awarded $2.1 million to a former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employee who claimed she was fired for campaigning against sex discrimination.

Dee Kotla, a computer support technician, said she was fired in 1997 for testifying in favor of a colleague in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the University of California and for raising concerns about pay discrepancies based on gender. Lab attorneys said Kotla, a 13-year lab employee, was fired after an investigation revealed she had used her work phone and computer to conduct outside business.

Kotla’s attorney told the Alameda County Superior Court jury that the case had the “ugly stain of retaliation” and that the lab should be made to pay for its conduct.