Ex-Worker Wins Verdict $5.8M Against El Paso Electric

A jury has awarded $5.8 million to a white former employee of El Paso Electric in a discrimination lawsuit after a dispute with a supervisor who is Hispanic.

Company attorney Mary Kipp denied any discrimination and says El Paso Electric will appeal.

Jurors in El Paso ruled in favor of Mark Duncan.

The El Paso Times reports Duncan was a benefits supervisor until late 2007. Duncan alleged he was fired after his life was threatened during an altercation with a human resouces manager, who’s Hispanic.

Duncan attorney John Wenke says the company feared the manager would file a discrimination lawsuit if dismissed, so the company fired both workers.

Kipp says the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found no evidence of discrimination against either employee.

Information from: El Paso Times