New Haven to Pay $425,000 to Settle Worker’s Lawsuit

The city of New Haven, Conn. will pay $425,000 to a former parks worker who claimed in a lawsuit that he was rejected for a public works job because he was too old and white.

City officials agreed to settle the lawsuit the day a judge was supposed to hear the city’s appeal of a $500,000 jury verdict given to Casper Vollero Jr., who is in his 60s.

Diane Polan, Vollero’s lawyer, says her client is thrilled to have the case settled. She criticized the city for wasting taxpayers’ money, because it could have settled the case for $60,000 months ago.

John Ward, New Haven’s corporation counsel, says the city will pay $150,000 of the settlement and its insurance company will pay the remainder. He says the city agreed to settle because it reached a better deal with its insurer.

Source: New Haven Register.