EVERETT – A former Everett utilities employee who won a racial discrimination lawsuit that cost the city more than $1 million stands to be awarded more money for an age discrimination suit.
The City Council is expected to be asked today to pay Brock Bradley $50,000 to drop the latest lawsuit.
Bradley, who is 48, is claiming age is the reason he was passed over in favor of a less-qualified candidate for a heavy equipment operator job that he applied for in 2002.
Robert Christie, the Seattle contract attorney defending the city in the case, said Everett’s insurance provider decided to settle rather than risk losing in court and being forced to pay damages and attorney fees.
He said the city will not admit wrongdoing in the settlement.
Judith Lonnquist, Bradley’s attorney, did not return calls seeking comment.
Bradley and Gary Allen, another former utilities employee, sued Everett in 2003, claiming that a Hispanic supervisor continually harassed them with racial slurs such as “honky” and “white guy.”
In that case, a jury awarded the men $585,000, but after attorney fees, sanctions and other costs were calculated, the loss cost the city $1.16 million.
During that trial, Mark Sadler, then a maintenance superintendent, testified on the city’s behalf.
When Christie asked Sadler why he chose another candidate over Bradley, he said the other man was “probably younger” and “to me, more enthusiastic.”
Bradley, who was 44 when he sought the job, had worked with the city’s utilities department for 12 years, according to public records. He also attended Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland for three years and held a high school diploma.
Dean Weaver, who was hired for the heavy equipment operator job, which now pays up to $53,500 annually, was 36, with less than four years experience with the city. He attended one semester at Everett Community College and held a high school diploma, according to his application.
Sadler later testified that age was not a factor in his decision.
But Bradley filed a new complaint against the city.
The case was set to go before a Snohomish County jury later this month. But the City Council is expected to consider the settlement at its regular meeting today.
Christie said economics are driving the settlement.
“This is truly a risk-management decision from the insurance company’s standpoint,” he said.
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