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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

University of California

Singleton v. The University of California (Gender Discrimination at Lawrence Livermore Lab)

Date: 11/19/2003 (Date of Settlement Approval)

Misconduct Type: Labor

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: Energy

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $10,600,000

Disposition: Settlement

Synopsis: In December 1998, six female employees at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which is operated by the University of California, filed a class action lawsuit alleging gender discrimination in pay and promotions. One of the plaintiffs' main contentions was that the lab discriminated against women through a subjective ranking system which allowed gender stereotyping and biases to influence decisions. The plaintiffs also alleged the lab had documented, but failed to correct, discrimination against women for more than a decade. The lawsuit was settled in November 2003 with the regents agreeing to pay over $10.6 million and provide fair pay and promotions for thousands of female employees.