Kodak Agrees to Settle Discrimination Lawsuit for $21.4M

New York-based Eastman Kodak Co. has agreed to pay $21.4 million to settle legal action brought by black workers who claim the photography products maker discriminated against them.

The deal was given preliminary approval by a federal judge last month. It would have the Rochester company pay amounts ranging from $1,000 to $75,000 to more than 3,000 past and current workers.

Kodak is admitting no wrongdoing and says it agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation.

The proposed settlement would end both a 2004 lawsuit brought by a group called Employees Committed for Justice and a similar suit filed by other black workers in 2007.

A final approval hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15 in federal court in Rochester.