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Secret Settlements
by Cathy L Jensen, attorney
You and I are paying the cost of UC's scorched earth litigation
practices, both as taxpayers and as citizens. The millions of dollars spent to
destroy women faculty who complain of discrimination rather than to
correct the faults in the system is unconscionable, but the loss of brilliant
scholars and the erosion of respect for our government are perhaps worse.
The University routinely demands secrecy as a condition of
settlement; it protects the University from embarrassment, leaves the
faculty member vulnerable to reputation rape, and silences dissent within
the University community. Because tax dollars are spent to settle these
suits, any citizen is entitled under the California Public Records Act
(section 6250 of the Government Code) to a copy of a settlement, even
though it calls for secrecy. In settlements obtained this way we have found
plaintiffs required to:
1. Pay UC $50,000 if they divulge the terms.
2. Follow an exact script of what may be said about the settlement.
3. Agree to say nothing negative about the University.
4. Refrain from assisting others who are suing UC.
5. Never work anywhere in the UC system, even as a volunteer.
UC Alumni, students and faculty, and taxpaying citizens, must take the
University Administration to task: the time is ripe to heal the system, to
end discrimination and harassment and stop reprisals against those with the
courage to complain.
-wage@wage.org-