Jury awards $11.4M in couple’s racial bias case against Michigan
FLINT (AP) — A jury has awarded $11.4 million to a black couple who filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Attorney Jon Marko says Lisa Griffey was a probation officer who was racially harassed by white co-workers. She says they called her “mammy” and the “black one.”
Marko says her husband, Cedric Griffey, who was a deputy prison warden, was retaliated against because of his wife’s legal challenge.
A Genesee County jury found Lisa Griffey was subjected to a hostile work environment and suffered an adverse employment action because of her race.
The jury on Monday said Cedric Griffey also suffered. The trial lasted six weeks.
The attorney general’s office, which defended the Corrections Department at trial, says an appeal is likely.
Constitution Day event focuses on Supreme Court, gerrymandering
In honor of Constitution Day on Tuesday, Sept. 17, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and the American Constitution Society will host a panel discussion at the law school’s Auburn Hills campus featuring the Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren, co-founder of Patriot Week, and Mark Brewer, an attorney specializing in election law.
This year’s event marks the 10th anniversary of both the founding of Patriot Week.org and the inaugural event of the Auburn Hills Constitution Society.
Warren and Brewer will lead a panel discussion, “Gerrymandering, the United States Supreme Court, and Michigan’s Constitutional Amendment.”
The Constitution Day celebration is free and open to the public.
It will take place from noon to 1:45 p.m. in room 145 of WMU-Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus, 2630 Featherstone Rd.
Individuals interested in attending should register by emailing tempah1@cooley.edu.
Couple charged for spending over $100K in accidental deposit
MONTOURSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania couple who police say went on a spending spree after a bank accidentally deposited $120,000 into their account are headed to trial.
State police tell the Williamsport Sun-Gazette that Robert and Tiffany Williams, of Montoursville, spent most of the money on items like an SUV, a race car, two four-wheelers and a camper.
Police say the couple also paid bills and gave friends $15,000.
BB&T bank contacted the couple June 20 after realizing the error, telling the couple they were responsible for returning the funds.
After they failed to repay the money, the bank took legal action.
The couple faces felony theft charges.
As they arrived at court Monday, Robert Williams told WNEP-TV they “took some bad legal advice” and “it probably wasn’t the best thing in the end.”
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