Judge: No evidence of gender discrimination
A federal judge has dismissed a gender discrimination lawsuit filed against the Fayette County Board of Commissioners by former County Administrator Christine Venice.
Venice didn’t bring forth any facts to support the contention that she was terminated because of her gender, according to the ruling issued March 16 by U.S. District Judge Jack T. Camp.
In her suit, Venice claimed that her gender was “a substantial motivating factor” behind the commission asking her to resign April 18, 2007. At the same time the commission also voted to ask then public safety director Jack Krakeel to accept the position of interim county manager, her court filing pointed out.
Venice’s lawsuit, however, offered no further supporting allegations that would indicate she might have been a victim of gender discrimination.
While the lawsuit has been completely dismissed, one of Venice’s claims may be heard in a state court in the future. Camp dismissed Venice’s claim that the county violated her employment contract by ceasing to offer her health insurance as spelled out in the agreement.
The claim was dismissed from federal court because it is a matter of Georgia law, Camp indicated.
The county has contended that it dropped Venice from the medical coverage because it violated the county’s insurance contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
