Ohio worker who claimed sex bias gets $100K settlement

CLEVELAND (AP) — A former county government worker in Ohio who says she was paid less and denied promotions because she’s a lesbian has received a $100,000 settlement.

The federal court lawsuit filed by Cuyahoga County support agency worker Shari Hutchinson was settled in September. She announced the agreement today in Cleveland.

Hutchinson’s lawsuit says she had better education and experience than co-workers who were promoted, while she was rejected for promotion 22 times in less than seven years.

Her lawsuit won a judge’s ruling last spring that gay-lesbian discrimination in public employment violates the 14th Amendment.

The county denied discriminating and says the settlement represents a compromise of disputed claims. Hutchinson agreed to quit and never reapply to work for the county.