Jury Awards Atlanta Transit Police Officer $700K

A federal jury has awarded $700,000 to a police lieutenant over claims that the metro Atlanta transit agency retaliated against him after he filed a discrimination complaint.

Lt. George Hernandez will receive $100,000 in lost wages and benefits, $450,000 for emotional pain and $150,000 in damages.

His attorney, Debra Schwartz, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that after Hernandez filed a discrimination complaint in 2007, MARTA withdrew an acting precinct commander position it had offered him. He was not interviewed for future jobs and was accused of poor job performance.

The jury did not find that MARTA discriminated against Hernandez racially when the lieutenant was passed over for promotions in 2006.

A MARTA spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.