Fresno State's problems with sexual discrimination cases continued on two fronts.
Attorneys spent Friday afternoon in Fresno County Superior Court trying to persuade judge Donald S. Black to overturn the verdict in the trial of former women's basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein.
Meanwhile, softball coach Margie Wright, the school's only coach to win a national championship, has retained lawyer Dan Siegel for what could be another lawsuit against the university.
In the latest development involving Johnson-Klein, the school's attorneys asked for a new trial and that it take place outside Fresno County. And at the very least, Fresno State asked the judge to reduce the $19.1 million the jury award Johnson-Klein in December.
The attorneys cited a "polluted" and high-pressured atmosphere that jurors faced because of media coverage and "inflaming" comments by Johnson-Klein's lawyers that enticed the jury to punish the university.
Black, who also listened to arguments by Johnson-Klein's lawyers, did not make a ruling. No specific date was set when he would, though Black has until Feb. 9, 60 days after a verdict is made, to make a decision before he'd lose such authority.
"I'm not concerned about another trial," Johnson-Klein said outside the courtroom. "I'm pretty optimistic. I still feel very vindicated. I trust my judge, trust my jury, trust my lawyers. I trust my story.
"It's very sad that Fresno State chose this route. It's very sad that they're choosing to fight like they are. They're wrong. They know they're wrong. And we'll win in the long run."
Fresno State attorney Dawn Theodora declined to comment outside the courtroom, and attorney Mick Marderosian could not be reached.
In addition to losing the Johnson-Klein case, Fresno State lost a sexual discrimination case against Lindy Vivas, with the jury awarding the former volleyball coach $5.85 million in July. Judge Alan M. Simpson later reduced the amount to $4.5 million, which Vivas accepted but the university is appealing.
Fresno State also settled for $3.5 million in October with former associate athletic director Diane Milutinovich, who filed a similar suit against the university.
And last month, Iris Levesque, a former secretary in the Fresno State men's basketball office, filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging she lost her job after complaining about ex-coach Ray Lopes.
Siegel, who is representing all four plaintiffs, said he hopes to meet with the university to reach an agreement with Wright regarding treatment and pay. Wright is contemplating a lawsuit against the university for its behavior toward the softball coach "from day one to today," Siegel said.
Wright, the NCAA's winningest softball coach who won a national championship for Fresno State in 1998, could not be reached for comment Friday.
But since testifying last year against the university in both the Vivas and Johnson-Klein trials, Wright believes the university is creating an unfair and unequal environment, Siegel said.
"She's treated like a second-class citizen even though she's the most successful coach in the history of Fresno State," Siegel said. "We're going to try to get Fresno State to treat her right. And if they don't, you know the normal actions."
Wright, who is entering her 23rd season at Fresno State, signed a three-year contract extension in December that allows her to coach the Bulldogs through the 2012 season.
Financial details of her contract were not immediately available, though Siegel said he has argued Wright's salary is not equal to that of male coaches at Fresno State and to other softball coaches throughout the nation.
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