By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media via Arizona Daily Star
The state Senate will get a new chance to escape at least some of the financial penalty imposed over the firing of a staffer.
U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Rayes acknowledged in a new order that a jury last year concluded the Senate had retaliated against policy adviser Talonya Adams because she complained of discrimination based on both sex and race. That related to the fact she was being paid less than others with similar experience.
But Rayes, after reviewing the record, said he found that Adams, who represented herself, had presented no such evidence of retaliation. And that, the judge said, means the Senate gets a new trial on that claim.
The new ruling does not mean the state is off the financial hook.
