Suit May Cost Contra Costa County More Than $1 million

Contra Costa County, Calif., may end up paying more than $1 million in a discrimination case involving the county assessor.

After a jury found County Assessor Gus Kramer and the county liable in one of a dozen claims filed by Bernice Peoples, the same jury awarded her more than $400,000 in damages.

In her suit, Peoples claimed that after working in the same entry-level appraising job for 23 years she was passed over for a promotion after filing a sexual and racial harassment claim against Kramer.

Besides the damages awarded, Contra Costa County will also have to pay Peoples’ attorney fees and costs. Her attorney estimates that could be more than $1 million.