Former SSU coach wins gender discrimination case

<p>Jurors determined Tuesday that a former Sonoma State University softball coach who was fired in 2005 was treated unfairly because of her gender, awarding her $229,000 in her civil lawsuit against the school.</p><p>The 9-3 jury verdict came on behalf of Chris Elze, who sued the school for discrimination after her contract wasn’t renewed after 11 years with the school, five as head coach, said her attorney, Dave King of Petaluma.</p><p>During a three-week trial, King argued that Athletic Director Bill Fusco treated Elze differently than male coaches over similar incidents. Witnesses described several instances in which Fusco allowed male coaches to handle problems with their teams, while he disciplined Elze or withheld information from her.</p><p>After the verdict, jurors said the seven-woman, five-man panel all agreed that Elze was treated unfairly. But they said the three holdouts weren’t convinced the disparate treatment amounted to gender discrimination.</p><p>In civil cases, a three-quarters majority is required. Unanimous verdict are necessary in criminal cases.</p><p>The jury voted 9-3 on all six questions before them – three about whether gender was a motivating factor in Elze’s suspension and firing and three about whether those decisions caused her substantial harm. Two of the holdouts were women.</p>