Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Lesbians win damages in health-insurance case Date: Wed, 25 Nov 92 16:20:05 EST Message-ID: Lines: 54 \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD Lesbians win damages in health-insurance case \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT MINNEAPOLIS MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Three library employees were awarded more than $90,000 in damages after a civil rights panel ruled that the city discriminated against them by not providing health insurance for their lesbian partners. Ann DeGroot, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council, called the ruling "a major breakthrough" in recognizing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Maury Landsman of the University of Minnesota Law Clinic, one of the lawyers representing the women, said several cities have provided benefits for their employees' same-sex partners. "But as far as we know, this is the first time a judicial or administrative body has found the policy of failing to provide [health insurance] to be discriminatory," Mr. Landsman said. The ruling goes beyond a 1991 case involving a lesbian city social worker in Denver who took time off work to care for her ailing lover. Her request for sick leave was denied. She protested, and a hearing officer later ruled she was entitled to three days of sick pay. A Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission panel voted 2-1 last week to require the city and the Library Board to stop refusing to provide health care benefits to the women's partners. The panel rejected the city's argument that providing the benefits would be too costly. Assistant City Attorney James Moore said no decision has been made about whether to appeal the ruling. Mr. Moore said no assessment has been made as to how many city employees would be affected. The panel awarded $39,599 to Judith Bagan, employed at the library since 1978; $30,525 to Marie Hanson, an employee since 1982; and $20,391 to Jane Anglin, who worked at the library from 1983 until November 1990. The amounts include $8,500 in punitive damages for each woman and attorneys' fees. They also include tripled actual damages, based on their partners' medical expenses and the added cost of buying health insurance. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM