University found liable in Johnson-Klein wrongful termination lawsuit
After four hours of deliberating jurors reached a verdict in the Stacy Johnson-Klein wrongful termination lawsuit against Fresno State University Thursday.
The university has been found liable on all three counts; gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. Damages have been awarded in the amount of $19 million.
KSEE 24 News wants to know what you think about the verdict. Do you agree? Click on the link below to share your comments and read others.
The university has been found liable on all three counts; gender discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. Damages have been awarded in the amount of $19 million.
KSEE 24 News wants to know what you think about the verdict. Do you agree? Click on the link below to share your comments and read others.
posted by KSEE 24 News at
12/06/2007
60 Comments:
What a great victory for Stacy Johnson-Klein. The administration at F.S.U. needs to start to get their head out of the sand be fair in all sports.
From press accounts it seems Fresno State disliked Johnson-Klein so much they failed to reasonably evaluate their probable liability. This is just the last in a series of woeful misjudgments by the Fresno SAtate administration.
Now President We3lty says they will appeal. Yet another legal judgment at odds with the facts and reason. A jury took only four hours (!) to find the University liable on all
three grounds. What reason persuades them that spending a ton more money on an appeal will persuade anyone not tied to the aministration that a different result will be obtained?
Good on Stacy Johnson-Klein! She deserves this victory. John Welty and his synchophantic, parasitic followers need to GO. The things he has done to build CSUF are almost wiped out by the corruption and malfeasance he embodies. It's right that his covert thugery and disregard for ethical behavior is publicly and widely condemned. Good luck to Stacy.
Good on Stacy Johnson-Klein! She deserves this victory. John Welty and his synchophantic, parasitic followers need to GO. The things he has done to build CSUF are almost wiped out by the corruption and malfeasance he embodies. It's right that his covert thugery and disregard for ethical behavior is publicly and widely condemned. Good luck to Stacy.
The verdict FOR Johnson-Klein strikes a win for women who have been subject to sexual harrassment in their workplace and have been unable to take the issue public and to court. My former boss called me to the office after- hours to get out an "urgent" project. The urgent project turned into his attempt to rape me. The only thing I "got out of it" was losing my job and embarrassment and slander from those who found out. Those who found out said it was MY fault. I had to change cities and find a new job to start a new life. I may never get $$ for my pain and suffering and lost wages, but at least some women like Johnson-Klein have the guts to stand up to these types of men
Even now, all I see coming from the leadership at Fresno State is total arrogance! They are 0 for 3 in their 3 battles of the 'ladies'. Welty says they will appeal and I guess they have to. But at what point does the University do the right thing and send Welty packing? There obviously is a climate at CSUF that won't even allow leadership to say "perhaps" we were in the wrong! I would have thought that after going 0 for 2, they would have "known when to fold'em".
Total arrogance!
I feel that She should have been vindicated for all the damage the men at the university did to her future. It shouldn't matter what or how a woman wears or how she dresses, there is no excuse for sexually harrassing any woman. I have been there and it is not a good feeling and was fired in the 60's for not giving up myself to my boss. And it happened to me all the time and it even happened to me when I was pregnant with my children. And I didn't dress sexy. She should have gotten a heck of alot more than she got. I'm proud of her for fighting back. You go Stacy all of the women in my family are rooting for you Rosalee Ann Spoon
President Welty should be removed from office. The sexual harassament happened under his administration and it is costing the school dearly. How much more will he cost taxpayers and college students? Even though I hate to see the school lose money, at the same time I sympathize with Johnson-Klein as a victim of sexual harassment.
Moses D.
President Welty should be removed from office. The sexual harassament happened under his administration and it is costing the school dearly. How much more will he cost taxpayers and college students? Even though I hate to see the school lose money, at the same time I sympathize with Johnson-Klein as a victim of sexual harassment.
M.D.
I am so excited for Stacy Johnson Klein. She deserves to be vindicated for everything that she has had to go through. Sexual harrassment is deffenatly in the work place and it needs to stop! I hope that this sends a HUGE message CSU-Fresno that it is unacceptable conduct.
This verdict should not necessarily be viewed as a triumph for women but rather pulling off the masks of "the good old boy network" of out of control power that allows them to think, feel, and do whatever they wish in order to keep the environment they way they want it. Welty should resign or be terminated because there have been so many instances of poor decision making and out right disrespect for people. For those players that spoke out against Klein, know why you are angry and know that her firing had nothing to do with you. These players were used as scape goats. They may very well have legitimate concerns, but those concerns were never addressed or dealt with properly. If there is anyone these girls should have beef with, it is Dr. Welty and his agenda. Girls, this case was not about you! WELTY MUST GO!! Yes I'm going there. If he was of another ethnicity, he would have been gone a long time ago.
Welty should run, not walk, to the nearest exit. And then perhaps be replaced by Diane Milutinovich.
Way to go Stacy.
Now F.S.U. needs to clean house starting at the top with Welty on
down the line to Adrian Wiggans who
if you remember didn't want her job, he lies like the rest of them.
Hooray for Stacy Johnson-Klein! She deserves every penny of this settlement. She was an excellent coach and was building up the program that she was in charge of. The university was wrong in not treating the women athletes equally...that was the main issue. Instead the university tried to assassinate her character and and turned it into a sleazy theater and it backfired on them. It's time for Welty to go, along with his henchmen and get back to making our university the great university we are.
Awarding this much taxpayer's money
merly guided by emotion is such a reckless act. I'm loosing my confidence towards women dominated jurrors. First simpson's trial and now this. Atleast one should show a little respect for the law and take enough time to evaluate what's been said through the proccesses. Reminder: This is not president Welty's money.
Stacy is still the same terrible person she was before this award of a ridiculous amount of money.
11 women and one male? All of which are most likely libbers.
i an soooooooooooo happy for her stacy klein , way to go stacy . enjoy your money,
Fresno State Supporter, Many years ago my daughter played for Fresno State and we saw first hand what is being exposed today.
John Welty needs to leave, if not fired. All this happened on his watch. FSU needs to forget fighting the jury decision and clean up FSU, starting with getting rid of Welty.
the jury was 11 women and one man, are you serious?? I am a student at csu fresno and for once i wish people would actually see who this is hurting. This is not hurting the school, this is hurting young hard working college students like myself. Thanks to this i can be sure of higher tuition. 19 million! Can you honestly say that she deserves 19 million dollars. And fairness???? When i was on the baseball team of my previous school, we worked incredibly hard for 6 months to raise enough money for a scoreboard that the school would not provide. Once we EARNED it, the school bought the woman's softball team a scoreboard just like ours. Did they put in all the hard work to raise money for it... NO! Thanks title 9. Now which one of you feminists can tell me that was fair. Our legal system makes me sick.
This is not a case about sexual harassment. This is about a woman who acted in a totally unprofessional manner and was fired justifiably as a result. Sexual harassment was just a convenient basis for a lawsuit. From the beginning,Johnson-Klein's narcissistic need for attention was more important than the greater good of the team. Johnson-Klein flaunted her sexuality from the beginning. How interesting she again uses sex discrimination to explain her demise. Interesting!
What a great example for women! Act unprofessional and look unprofessional. Then file a lawsuit and claim sexual harassment. Pathetic!!
What a nice reward for very bad judgment and behavior on the part of Stacy Johnson-Klein. What a terrific example it sets for women. Some victory!!
Wonder how much influence the juror who graduated from high school last spring had on the decision.
Hollywood has Britney Spears. Fresno has Stacy Johnson-Klein. Two nuts from the same tree.
There is no amount of money that can replace your self esteem, integrity, the loss of respect, and a lost career. For many years Welty arrogantly allowed football coaches and basketball coaches with questionable reputations to continue coaching. Three women fought the fractured system controlled by Welty. Rather than spend more of the taxpayers money, I would suggest that the the University accept their loss, pay Stacy Johnson-Klein immediately, fire Welty, and re-think the path of our University. There is a tremendous lack of integrity in our university system that is not acceptable. No matter how much money Stacy receives, it is not a replacement for one's career. She deserves more money, and I hope she refuses to settle for a penny less than she has been awarded. I wish Stacy the best of everything.
I do think the verdict is correct in the Johnson-Klein trial. However, 19 million dollars??!! The worst part about the money is that it is not hurting Fresno State and the people who brought this on. It comes out of the pockets of the tax payers. Where's the logic there? Let's change the system so that the one's responsible are actually held responsible. Also, there is all of this talk about President Welty stepping down - has everyone forgotten about Scott Johnson?
Overall - good verdict, bad judgment.
Today is a sad day for Fresno. Has justice become, "who can put on a better dog and pony show"? If 11 women and 1 man can not see that it was best for the team, the school and our community that Stacey Johnson be removed from her position at CSUF-- the moral fabric in Fresno is in grievious decline. I believe jurors were blinded and deafened to critical points by the many smoke screens not germaine to the termination. Stacey Johnson gives women a bad rap. God help our city--please.
Yes...Justice was served..
Stacy is a strong woman...and was a strong coach.
She didn't ask for the 19 million...in fact she was willing to settle for 1 million...BUT more importantly...she wanted Justice....and she GOT IT!!! The extra 15 million ...was added by the jury...because of Welty...It was a "15 Million dollar Statement"
He needs to be fired...
For the same reasons he Claims he "fired" Stacy...
For the "good of the Students and the University"
Instead of appealing this decision....FSU...should consider ...seeking better legal advisors..There wasn't a chance in hell...they could have won this case...even with a "Dream team"...and their legal advisors...should have driven that "point" home....because it was Clearly a “SLAM DUNK” case!
4 hours of deliberations
.....PLUS 19.1 Million…Proves it!
Linda C.
On Dan Siegel's suggestion that the money awarded should go for education, I challenge Stacie Johnson-Klein and her attorneys to not accept the money, but instead use it to establish a national center for education, policy development, research, and legal aid in issues of discrimination in higher education. What say you? It seems this would be the ultimate victory and vindication for all.
Had anyone else ever noticed that in news footage Stacy Johnson-Klein always seemed to be touching, grabbing, or hugging a man in the courthouse hallway?! I found that odd considering this was a sexual harassment lawsuit. Who knows? Maybe she grabbed Scott Johnson, too.
A jury of 11 women and 1 man. No wonders the jury only took 4 hours to come to a decision. I am so sick and tired of crazy feminists that walk around all day with a chip on their shoulder. And 19 million!!! i dont think woman's basketball has ever sold 19 million dollars worth of tickets in the history of fresno state. Thanks alot irrational feminists.
it is good that she won no one should be discriminated woman or not but the only thing that is not right is the amount of money she was awarded it was too much and i think that it should be lowered
Stacy Johnson-Klein got what she deserved out of the court's decision and it was to be smaller but increased it to the proper amount. This proves that President Welty should take a flying leap out the door while he's got a chance after losing 26 million dollars on 3 women cases against their decision of drugs or sexual harrassment against the team members when it all was against the 3 women that they outright didn't want and got someone else to replace them that makes no common sense except to themselves of what they wanted to do instead of giving the women chances but insead dumped 3 and lost all 3 cases in a court decision and in Baseball 3 strikes against you is you're out.
Adios to John Welty.
All though I am elated that Stacy is victorious, I fear that this will not change anything at Fresno State. You still have the good ole boys making the decisions. They didn't learn anything from the first two lawsuits, they won't learn from this one either. Dr. Welty feels that he is invinceable and as long as he is allowed to stay in his postion nothing will change. I believe that all of these women should have also filed civil suits against Welty. The old "I was not aware of any wrong doings" just doesn't cut it for me. I have been employed with CSUF for almost twenty years and have been battling for the past ten for a reclassification into the postion I took over, did I mention that this postion was held by two men before I came in? HHMMM
I believe the verdict would have been different if they had treated her like they did the players on the men's basketball team. How many times did they slap hands for drug use? And did they even offer rehab as an option to her? Nope. I suspect the amount awarded may be reduced on appeal but I do believe the decision against Welty will stand.
It is time for him to admit his mistakes.
I think its time the for the Fresno State Administration gives Welty the boot. It's obvious in three differant cases. All winning suit. Somthing's wrong with this picture. You think?
I am glad that Stacy won she deserves it. She would never be able to get another coaching job after filing this lawsuit. The jury was sending a message to CSUF.
The "good ole boys" need to be removed immediately. And the people of Fresno should send that message to our government. How much more are those guys going to cost the taxpayers of California?
Stacy Johnson-Klein is a pathetic example to the students at Fresno State and women as a whole. As a coach she was a role model for her players. This verdict basically tells her players and the rest of the CSUF students to go ahead dress like a tramp, take perscription drugs illegally, promote your own agenda before that of your team and otherwise act unprofessionally because when you get reprimanded for that behavior you can cry wolf and some wacked out jurors will award you more money than you would EVER make otherwise. Just pathetic! Admit it Stacy you are not as innocient as the media makes you out to be! As for Dr. Welty-- maybe the media should put more attention on the GOOD he has done the University for over 15 years.
This is not about gender equality for Stacy Johnson-Klein. She rode on the coat tails of 2 previous lawsuits that were probably warranted. When does having a drug problem, treating your players badly and taking advantage of people translate into gender inequality and sexual discrimination???
I am embarrassed for our community and feel badly for the players who had the courage to come forward and talk about what was going on during her time here. What did they get out of it besides 11 people slapping them in the face? Dr. Welty has been doing GOOD in this community for 11 years, Stacy Johnson-Klein has been here for 3, who seems to be doing the better job of bringing the community together? I am happy that Dr. Welty is leading our university and stand behind him 100%
What kind of women would ware High Heels at a game as coach come on, what is wrong with Fresno State ? and her ? this ia a sports game not a fashion show! I thought we had dress codes at our schools ?If a female Janitor had high heels on and moping the floor they would say something right ! I really think this women brought this on herself.
I hope the public will honor the jury's decision since THEY were the ones who sat through all that testimony and made their decision....
Yes, I am happy that Stacy Johnson Klein won her case against Fresno State and for any one of those people who are against her winning, well then there is something wrong with them and they just can't see what happened or understand just how wrong Stacy Johnson Klein was treated. The next thing, the Fresno State President should step down right away. The sooner the better for Fresno State and let them start new with someone else. The amount just goes to show you how the jury felt and the amount was high, however, it will be reduced I'm sure, but it will be fair I'm sure.
This is a sad day after! This judgment is insane, given any characterization, Ms. Johnson-Klein needed to be fired. That being said, there were others that needed to be fired. I sincerely hope that this judgment is significantly reduced through appeal or other process. If this jury is to be believed, they think it's acceptable to prance around and then claim harassment - I wonder what else they would condone. I am just glad that the Hollywood writers are on strike - I cannot imagine the way Fresno would be trashed in the entertainment media over this mess.
I am happy she won although feel the award is too big. I also think the reason the award is so large is that the jury got sick and tired of the arrogance of Fresno State. Fresno State set out to destroy her when her offenses were far less than those of men in the athletic program who got away with everything or were allowed to leave with dignity. Their legal approach at trial continued with this approach. The double standard is also alive and well on the academia side at Fresno State. The place is run by a bunch of arrogant people who think they can do whatever they want to whomever. They break all the rules for their friends (usually white males) and apply them with a vengeance to those who they really don't want to share the system with (usually women and minorities).
Flaunting her sexuality like she was doing and then suing for sexual harassment is the total top of hypocracy what anybody can find.
And then she gets awarded for that the amount she would never made in her lifetime.
This is unbelievable. Shame on all those women on the jury.
Did you realize we are all going to pay for this with our tax money.
How come the people closest to her could not even stand her for her arrogance and narcissistic behavior?
And all that sex talk with her players including bringing that husband of hers into it too.
And then she gets reworded for this unprofessional behavior.
The University had every right to fire her.
Good job mostly women jurors. What a great way to use tax payers money to support behaviors like this.
I was also on Fresno State athletic team. But if we would have a pain killers addicted, narcissistic, sexuality flaunted coach like her I would be for sure looking for another school to play for.
And she gets awarded for this behavior. This is an embarrassment for the whole community.
Sad Day for Fresno.
When people of Fresno can award this bimbo this kind of money.
God help us.
As a CSUF male graduate, it has been apparent for years that the women's side of sports has always received the short end of the stick. I am glad, in a way, that Stacy and the other women's coaches won their cases. It is sad though that insurance or not, awards like these cost all of us taxpayers,students and CSUF supporters in the long run. I was originally in favor of kicking Dr. Welty out,as his performance was not up to par, but then Sen. Dean Florez spoke out, and knowing him to speak without thinking things through and ending up with his foot in his mouth quite often and usually being on the wrong sides of most issues, I realized that he is of the wrong opinion and that we should support Dr. Welty. I believe that the sexual discrimination and other personal mistreatment of Stacy is true. She brought a lot of money and positive attention to CSUF during her tenure. Sure, a lot of her players didn't have many good things to say about her, but most people don't really like their coaches, or military drill sergeants for that matter either. It is their jobs to make you work to be the best that you can be and to ride your tails, whether you are putting out or not, to make sure that it happens! However, Stacy Johnson-Klein took part in activities, such as drug abuse, that is criminal and she should have to answer to criminal charges.
Prepare for on onslaught of lawsuits from money hungry women to begin pouring into the system. Men, prepare to be blackmailed. Any and everyh little comment will be scrutinized. Women are now going to do what they do best... complain!!!! A setback for society. No solution has come from this. The problem is now going to be compounded. Even less women will be hired for high profile jobs for fear of them pulling the harassment card. Nobody wants to walk on egg shells around an egotistical drug addict like Klein.
As a student at Fresno State I think that the jury did not take the proper consideration that this case deserves. I'm glad we are appealing the case as rightful. But you know with all that 19.1 million dollars i guess Stacy Johnson Klein can buy herself more vicodin!!!!!!
Simple, Stacy won...keep Stacy, can Welty.
Excuse me: Bimbo is now a generic term. A male bimbo is a bimbob. A female bimbo is a bimbette. Gender equity, you know.
Get ready, Fresno. There will now be more people and companies making fun of Fresno. What will it be, now? Definitely no longer a ghost town! We'll probably be looked upon as the valley of the irrational bimbos? I can already hear their shock as they shout: "What planet are they from!!?"
- $3 million for past non-economic losses like mental suffering
- $11 million for future pain and suffering
Did I miss something? Was this woman raped, molested, abused, illegally photographed or fired when she did NOTHING wrong? Our legal system is a joke.
How could they possibly think she was NOT rightfully terminated?
It's time for Welty to step down. He has been at the helm through every bad event at Fresno State, and there have been many. He is the problem. He allowed these things to occur if not promoting them (which is what I believe).
Really dumb. Women don't belong in competitive sports anyway; that's really unfeminine. The rough and tumble sports are for big, strong, tough, masculine men. Women should instead try to be more dainty and feminine, and engage in activities such as dance or swimming or gymnastics.
There are very real and natural differences between men and women, and it's insanity to deny that. By nature, men are bigger, much stronger, faster, and all-around better athletes. Women cannot even hope to compete against men; if they eliminated separate women's teams the men would be wiping the floors with the girls, and showing them who's really boss.
Men are by nature the stronger, more physically aggressive and more dominant sex; and women are happier when they can realize and accept and enjoy that. It's dumb to even encourage girls to be athletes because it rewards them for being mannish and unfeminine. This irrational and unrealistic ideology of total gender equality is just a crazy fad, in denial of the facts of Nature. It will pass soon enough, whether it takes a day or a year, and people will wake up again, and remember why (and how) men and women are such different creatures. And we will once again celebrate those difference.
In the meantime there's all these extremely unappealing mannish amazon types that we're supposed to tolerate, instead of being allowed the freedom of speech to voice our contempt openly.
Well, just wait. The backlash is just starting, and will soon be well under way. (And, by the way: yes, I'm a woman.) Women and men are intellectual equals, and should be treated as such; but they are not, and never will be, physical equals. And that is a truly wonderful thing. Now, if only more men could wake up and reclaim their natural masculinity and dominance, and stop putting up with all this feminist nonsense,as it has gone way overboard for far too long now.
If Johnson Klein is such a strong woman and coach, and for women's right's, than why did she wait till she was fired to make a sexual arrassement claim. Also, if she was truely all those things than why wasn"t she looking out for those girls well being in the beggining instead of having such a negative impact on thier lives. I don't see her doing anything productive before and after the trial to help young women, I see her bettering herslf of course. She might want to start by reinstating the scholarship fund that she claimed was in affect at her old high school in her name, that hasn't been used in years. Lets see what she taught the girls under her watch...its ok to take prescription pills..it's ok to use sex to get what you want instead of brains..it's ok to treat youe players like slaves and have them pack your bags and carry them..and lets not forget her husband giving players unknown substances... and oh yeah an authority figure and again her husband talking to her players about thier sex lives...etc! Has anyone bothered to ask how this affected this young women and how they are adjusting after all this?
I think Stacy is not worth the trouble or the 19 million I think she is money hungry and not professional who in their right mind wears high heals on a basketball court. Look how far the team has come without her. FSU is better off without her and her fashion antics.
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