A former Fresno State track and field assistant coach has settled a gender-discrimination lawsuit against the school and the California State University board of trustees for $300,000.
Ramona Pagel, a former Olympic shot-putter, alleged gender discrimination, retaliation and failure to maintain an environment free of discrimination and harassment after she was passed over for the head coaching position when Bob Fraley retired last year.
In addition, Pagel claimed that after the new coach took over, she wasn't given an interview for the assistant job she held for three seasons. She no longer is at Fresno State.
"Ramona's happy with the settlement and wants to coach, and this is the first step toward getting back into coaching, by resolving this case," said Warren Paboojian, her attorney.
He added that "universities are reluctant, in my opinion, to hire coaches who are involved in litigation."
In reaching the settlement, the CSU denied any wrongdoing, but expressed a desire to avoid what would likely be another costly legal battle over alleged gender discrimination.
Donald Newman, university counsel for California State University, said in a written statement that it was "in the best interest of the CSU to resolve this case early on, without further disrupting the track and field program, and to avoid being engaged in a potentially lengthy and costly legal dispute."
Pagel alleged in her lawsuit -- filed last February in Fresno County Superior Court -- that there is a pattern of discrimination against women in Fresno State's athletic department, and claims that she was denied promotion and lost her job as a result of her Title IX and gender-discrimination complaints.
Paboojian said "Fresno State did the right thing settling and avoiding a trial."
The California State University system has paid out more than $16 million in discrimination lawsuits or legal disputes since October 2007 involving five current and former female employees of the Fresno State athletic department.
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