Clark County to pay $150K to settle discrimination case

Clark County officials have a tentative agreement to pay $150,000 to settle a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee.

Michael Ware sued the county in U.S. District Court in May 2013, alleging he was discriminated against because he is African-American. Ware, a county employee since 1987, alleged he was offered a salary and benefits below what white people were paid for the job of assistant to the chief executive officer of the Eighth Judicial District in 2009.

He also was demoted in 2010 when the county eliminated a series of fire department management analyst positions, records show. Ware alleged that job was eliminated as retaliation because he had complained about disparate treatment, court records show. Ware also alleged he was denied use of a 24-hour vehicle while at the fire department, though other employees who are white had that same privilege.

The County Commission votes Tuesday on the settlement.

"The county vehemently denies unlawful action concerning Mr. Ware," county spokesman Erik Pappa said in a prepared statement. "The county's exposure in this type of litigation is created by its statutory obligation to pay plaintiff's attorney's fees if a jury awards even a minimal sum to plaintiff."

The county evaluated costs and weighed the expenses of the county's defense and potential exposure to paying the plaintiff's attorney fee through a trial, he said.

The proposed settlement would pay Ware $25,000, with $125,000 for his legal costs, according to the recommendation submitted by Chief Financial Officer Yolanda King.

Ware's attorney couldn't be reached for comment.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Follow @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.