Judge wants sides to meet in YSU lawsuit

YOUNGSTOWN — A long-simmering federal lawsuit filed against Youngstown State University by its former general counsel may come to trial in June, unless it’s resolved in a settlement conference scheduled for Tuesday.

Atty. Sandra L. Denman is alleging gender discrimination and retaliation against the university and is asking the U.S. District court for the Northern District of Ohio to award her monetary damages and even reinstatement, if the court deems it appropriate.

Denman, who no longer works for the university, served as the YSU’s general counsel and assistant to the president from March 1994 until June 30, 2004, and said in her complaint that the university refused to renew her contract and moved her into a lower paying, non-attorney position after she challenged what she deemed to be the “pattern and practice” of YSU to pay its female employees (including her) at a lower rate that male employees who performed equal work on jobs under similar working conditions.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.