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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 2000)
Pagt »6 September 27, 2ÖOO (Eìje ^lartlanh (Bbamier Federal Jury Awards Portland Man in Discrimination Lawsuit A federal ju ry aw arded a Port land man $251,000 after he sued his former employer for firing him from his job because he is black. Dexter Morrison, 45, was fired in 1997 after 20 years shuttling fuel for Unocal Corp, in Portland after a large amount o f super-unleaded gasoline leaked from tanks at a company stor age facility. The spill closed 12 blocks o f P ortland’s Front A venue for sev eral hours. According to M orrison’s lawyer, Thomas F. Spaulding, com pany officials m ade M orrison a scapegoat for the spill because he is black. " M r. M o r r is o n a lo n e w as blam ed," Spaulding said. “He ad m itted he was partly responsible. But it was a case o f a w hite em ployee leaving the bathtub run ning and a black em ployee failing to turn it o ff.” The w hite em ployee, Spaulding said, handed o ff a routine fuel trans fer to M orrison w hen the process was halfw ay through — w hich was against com pany safety policy. The w hite em ployee, who had a poor disciplinary history involv ing spills, was never reprim anded for the incident that cost M orrison his job. According to Spaulding, the people who decided to fire Morrison feared losing their jobs because the incident occurred just weeks before Unocal was scheduled to sell its 76 Products Division, including the Portland termi nal, to Tosco Corp. "W e argued that managers’ per sonal motivations in making sure the blame was cast somewhere other than on themselves was because o f this sale,” Spaulding said. “They needed a scapegoat, and faced with two candi dates, one white and one black, they chose the black.” Michael D. Williams, representing U nocal, on Tuesday said the com pany is “obviously very disap pointed w ith the result” o f the law suit. He declined to com ment further because other dis crim ination claim s brought by M orrison are pending. A cco rd in g to trial d o c u m e n ts , U nocal d e n ie d M orrison’s allegations and ar gued it w asn ’t liable for puni tive dam ages for actions taken by its em ployees because the firm has “a bona fide policy against discrim in atio n " and has made a good-faith effort to enforce it. The all-white jury disagreed. In the trial before U.S. D istrict Judge A nna Brown, jurors de term ined racial m otivations led to M orrison’s firing and on M onday awarded him $ 101,000 in back pay, $ 100,000 in puni tive dam ages and $50,000 in em otional distress dam ages. On Tuesday, M orrison, who now w orks at a Portland logis tics firm , said he was “ thrilled to death” w ith the ju ry ’s deci sion. “ For me, this was never about the m oney,” he said. “ It was about clearing my nam e.” Neil Kelly WE RE ON CALL FOR ALL YOUR SM ALL JOBS. FINISH CARPENTRY ROOF & SIDING REPAIR DRY ROT REPAIR SHOWER REPLACEMENT CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS DECK REPAIR & INSTALLATIONS A Neighborhood Business Since 1947 Contact John Frazier, Sr. for a free estim ate. It may be warm now, but winter is just around the comer. If your gas service is off, now is the best time to call to have your natural gas service turned on and to request a furnace inspection at no charge. And with steeper natural gas bills expected this winter due to higher wholesale prices, an appliance in spection now can help make your gas use more efficient and save costs. These are services offered to cus tomers as part o f their utility service. NW Natural is urging its custom ers to call now if they want a furnace inspection this year. The company is closer we get to autumn the less time is available for routine in spections.” Whenever cold weather does strike, NW Natural becomes swamped with calls from custom ers who wish to start or restart theirservice. Bycalling(503)226- 4210 now, customers can reduce the change o f having to wait. S e c h rist ad d e d th a t the com pany’s custom er's service technicians could inspect your gas w ater heaters, gas ranges and cooktops, gas dryers and gas heart products. again offering routine appliance in spections upon request. A service technician will inspect your hom e’s gas appliances, make minor adjust ments if necessary, and ensure that the equipment is working properly. If additional work is needed, customers will be referred to a qualified repair facility. “ If a customer believes that their furnace isn’t functioning properly, or if it has been a long time since it was inspected, this is a great time to get som e a d v ic e ," e x p lain ed Steve Sechrist, NW Natural spokesperson, “Now is the best time to call. The O L C C can cels C isc o & P a n c h o ’s liq u o r licen se The Oregon Liquor Control Com mission has cancelled the liquor li cense o f Cisco & Pancho’s, 107 NW 5Ih, Portland, Sept. 12 because o f a history o f serious and persistent al cohol related problems at the restau rant, including a fatal shooting, a stabbing, and what police character ized as a riot involving up to 150 persons. Cisco and P an ch o ’s president Trudi Li was served with the OLCC ’ s order, which cited violations between May 31,1998, and Aug 26,1999. and said the license must be cancelled because Li has not shown a w illing ness and ability to control the pre mises and patrons’ activities. The OLCC issued an emergency on food, removing the pool table and disc jockey booth, installing improved exterior lighting and trying to switch to other clien tele. However, in meetings this July and September, the OLCC con cluded that Cisco & Pancho’s still had not demonstrated ad equate control over the premises and patrons, and refused to over turn the suspension order. The O LCC’s cancellation or der becomes effective Sept. 22. Li was notified that she is en titled to a judicial review o f the order under ORS Chapter 183 if she files for the review within 60 days. suspension o f the restaurant liquor license Aug. 26, 1999, based on the above activities and other incidents on the around the premises including thefts, fighting, public drunkenness, drug used and sales, public urina tion. The Portland Police bureau has asked OLCC to intercede because o f continuing problems at the business located in Portland’s Old Town Li requested and received a hear ing on the suspension before an ad ministrative law judge. The hearing ended Dec. 7,1999. Thejudgerecom- mended that the suspension be lifted because Li made a number ofchanges at the facility, including adding new chef and placing a greater emphasis Phony Fire Inspector Arrested, Businesses Victimized OR CCB #1663 WA REG #NEILKCI 18702 Urban League's October 4th Dinner Will Celebrate the Spirit of the City. The Urban League of Portland's biggest fundraising event of the year will be a dinner on Wednesday evening, October 4, in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel. The event is entitled, "Celebrate the Spirit of the City -- the Urban League's Dinner 2000 " Sponsors of the dinner include Fred Meyer, Oregon Health Sciences University, Pacific Power & Light, Portland General Electric, Providence Health Systems, and Wells Fargo Bank. Margaret Carter, President of the Urban League, says the evening will feature local performers. "The League's Dinner 2000 will celebrate the spirit of young, local talent and the generous spirit of our sponsors and contributors." For information about the dinner, please call the Urban League office at 280-2600. WEST COAST BLACK PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 4 - 7 , 2 0 0 0 MONTE CARLO HOTEL • LAS V E G A S , NEVADA “ T he P ower of the B lack P ress : G etting R esults T hrough S trategy A Multnomah County Grand Jury has indicated Lockridge’s on 4 counts o f Burglary in the second D egree, 1 counts o f Theft in the First Degree (over $ 1000), 3 counts o f Theft in the Second Degree and 4 counts of Criminal Impersonation. nal ch a rg e o f B u rg la ry in Second D egree. T he in d ic tm e n t ch a rg e s stem from L o c k rid g e ’s involvem ent in p h ony fire in sp e c to r scam that v ic tim iz e d se v e ra l b u sin e sse s in the P o rtlan d a rea o v e r the past sev eral m onths. I and A ction ” Wednesday, October 4, 2000 6 :3 0 ML Welcome Dinner Thursday, October 5, 2000 • Youth, Community L Cultur* 8 :3 0 • 10:00 a . m . a . m . 10:00 a . m . ■ 1 1:45 1 0 :0 0 a.m . Noon - t.M. Welcome Breakfast Youth Day Summit WCBM PRESIDENT 1:30 r.M. 2 :3 0 ML Workshop: Technology 3 :3 0 ML Workshop: The Underground Railroad • 8 :0 0 ML Reception: Salute to Community Leoders 8:00 p . m . - 9 :3 0 ML Cultural Arts Program Noon • 1:30 ml - 2:30 m », • 7 :0 0 M L C loves C ampbell , J r . Publisher, A rizona In fo rm a n t CONFERENCE DIRECTOR A lescia B uford & A ssociates Inquiries, please call: 818-995-6545 Friday, Octobar 6, 2000 8:30 a . m . - 10:00 a . m . 1 0 :0 0 Corporate Diversity Breokfast • 2 :0 0 ML Block Church/Block Press Luncheon ml - 7 :0 0 Mt. WCBPA President's Reception 7:00 ml - 9 :3 0 ML WCBPA Awards Dinner 9 :3 0 ML SUPPORT THE BLACK PRESS! Workshop: Business ond Finance AJL • Noon Noon 6 :0 0 WCBPA INVITES YOU to participate in workshops and forums that address im portant issues to the minority community. Political Workshop Welcome Luncheon T h e W est C o ast Black P u blishers A ssociation, established in 1971, has 22 m em ber new spapers and 34 editions th a t are published in 18 m arkets encom passing the states o f A rizona, California, N evada, O regon and W ashington. After-Glow... Dessert Party Saturday, October 7, 2000 9:00 a . m . - 1 0:30 A.M. Farewell Breakfast 1.00 ML • T il O ff Golf Outing, The Las Vegas F or S pecial R o o m R ates , National Golf Club contact the C onference D irector CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM fax to at 8 1 8 *9 9 5 -6 5 4 5 8 1 8 -9 0 5 -8 8 0 1 N a m e ______________________________________ C om pany___________________________________ Address____________________________________ C it y ________________________ State_______ Telephone ________________________________________ O n Sept 20, P ortland State U ni v ersity C am p u s S afety O ffic e r L aizure a rre ste d 3 7 -y ear-o ld A n thony L. L o ckridge qn C harges o f P o ssessio n o f a C o n tro lle d S u b stance II. (c ra c k co cain e). D eliv ery o f a C o n tro lle d S u b stan ce II and P arole V io la tio n , on an o rig i www.neilkelly.com 503-288-7461 proven to be the ideal location in the past, offering am ple room and e a sy ac c e ss for em ployers and job seekers from both states and is the chosen site again fo r th is y e a rs event. M ark your cal endar fo r Utility crews install banner for the W ednesday O cto interstate job fair ber 4, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM to attend the 3rd change. T he co m b in ed e f annual Interstate Job Fair at Jantzen forts o f the p riv a te and p u b B each SuperCenter. lic secto rs w ill once again en su re one o f the la rg e st and There will be great opportunities if b e st jo b s fairs o ffered by e i you are lo oking for ca re e r o p th er state. tio n s, em p lo y m en t, o r a career Gas Furnace Inspections at No Charge W INDO W S & DOORS SHEETROCK LEAK REPAIR FLOOR COVERING JOBS SMALL CONCRETE JOBS ANO M O R E ... EASTSIDE SHOWROOM: 804 N. ALBERTA ST., PORTLAND Job Fair, Bridge To Future “Helping Bridge Your Future” is the for the 3rd annual Interstate Job Fair W ednesday O ct 4, at Jantzen Beach. Portland G eneral Electric is a link in that bridge as they give a boost to support this worthwhile com munity event by offering their services to hangbannersover Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Just south ofAlberta, and just west ofI-5 on North Lombard Street. An astounding 45CXR people at tended last years fair sponsored by th e S ta te o f W a s h in g to n W orkSource and their Job Service Employer C ommittee. O ver 70 busin ess from both W ashington and O regon are g ear ing up to make this m ajor, once a year, jo b fair a success. Jantzen Beach SuperC enter has HOME REPAIR TEAM T itle _____________ Z ip __________ Spouae/Guest_________________________________________ [«»tai r.nclosrd Ind ivid ual event tickets may be purchased ^^CalHbt^detalls, > 1 1 - 9 9 5 - 6 5 4 5
