"Sanford Airport settles racism lawsuit for $35,000"

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Settlement gives airport worker $35,000
The secretary sued the Sanford Airport Authority, alleging racial
discrimination.
By Robert Perez
The Orlando (FL) Sentinel

 
SANFORD -- An Orlando Sanford International Airport employee who filed a
federal racial-discrimination suit against her bosses last year has settled
the suit for $35,000.

The deal for Jacqueline Cockerham, which the airport authority board
approved earlier this month, also calls for her resignation and prohibits
her from seeking work with the Sanford Airport Authority in the future.

Cockerham, who worked as executive secretary for airport president Larry
Dale, will receive a "neutral" reference letter from the airport confirming
her dates of employment, positions held and salary.

The suit filed in June alleged that top airport officials, including Dale,
made racist remarks, intimidated employees and promoted whites and Hispanics
instead of blacks.

Cockerham, who is black, also alleged a history of harassment, humiliation
and disparagement against her by executive vice president Diane Crews. The
suit further claimed that Dale ignored repeated complaints about Crews
because the pair had an ongoing relationship.

Dale and Crews have denied Cockerham's allegations. The chairman of the
Sanford Airport Authority, Geoffrey Longstaff, called the allegations
"salacious and baseless."

A separate agreement among Dale, Crews and Cockerham specifies that
Cockerham "never observed Larry Dale and Diane Crews engaging in any sexual
activity." It says that Cockerham acknowledges that she misinterpreted an
incident in which she walked into Dale's office and found Crews under the
desk while Dale was sitting at it. That incident was described in
Cockerham's original lawsuit.

The settlement prohibits Cockerham and airport officials from speaking about
the lawsuit or its allegations. As such, Dale and Crews would not comment on
the settlement or the suit's allegations. Cockerham could not be reached for
comment.

Cockerham's attorney, Michael Moore, would not respond to repeated requests
for comment.

Under the settlement, Cockerham waives any claim for attorney's fees and
costs, and the mediation costs are split.

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