City Council OKs five-figure settlement

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council has authorized a $75,000 settlement with a former city worker who alleged workplace discrimination.

City officials disputed the federal complaint brought by Tamiko L. Stanley, who was hired as an administrator under former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. She worked as an assistant director and equal employment opportunity officer for the personnel department and Civil Service Commission, according to court filings.

After Mayor Bill Peduto took office in 2014, filings show, some higher-level city workers were asked to reapply for their jobs.

Ms. Stanley was chosen for “a diminished position” as assistant director of the Pittsburgh Partnership and later dismissed, according to her lawsuit.

A higher position sought by Ms. Stanley, who is black, went instead to a white man whom she once supervised, her complaint says.

Her counsel alleged illegal job discrimination on the basis of her race, sex and other characteristics, along with retaliation.

City attorneys contested her claims, asserting that Ms. Stanley failed to follow “prescribed procedures” for internal job applications and did not accept the Pittsburgh Partnership position offered to her.

That job was not “diminished” and would have paid Ms. Stanley a salary identical to her earlier pay, the city argued.

The man who landed the higher position followed application protocols, according to a city filing.

Mr. Peduto said the city “never expressed guilt” in the matter. He said the settlement limited potential legal expenses.

“The financial burden on taxpayers could have been much greater than $75,000 even if we were to win,” Mr. Peduto said.

Ms. Stanley’s Downtownbased attorney, Charles A. Lamberton, declined to comment.

City Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle was absent during Tuesday’s 8-0 settlement vote.