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Same-sex harassment case settled

 
Published Aug. 13, 1999|Updated Sept. 29, 2005

A meatpacking company has agreed to a $1.9-million settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the first male-on-male sex harassment lawsuit to receive class-action status.

Long Prairie Packing Co. settled the suit filed on behalf of workers who alleged they were subject to verbal and physical harassment by co-workers.

Few details beyond the settlement's total were disclosed, and the company admitted no wrongdoing in Wednesday's consent decree. It would not say whether any of the workers or supervisors accused of the harassment were fired or disciplined.

The company, which employs 235 people, said it also has settled civil lawsuits filed by three former workers.

Farm workers' families

sue truck driver

FRESNO, Calif. _ A lawsuit filed in Superior Court on Thursday claims that negligence by a big rig driver and improper markings on his truck's trailers were to blame for the collision that killed 13 Mexican farm workers in California's Central Valley this week.

The action by the victims' survivors against the driver and two trucking companies attempts to shift the focus of the accident from the unlicensed driver of the farm workers' van to the truck that blocked its path early Monday.

The lawsuit charges that driver Adrian Medjivar Erazo, 44, negligently cut in front of the van that was carrying 14 workers and a driver home after an overnight shift harvesting tomatoes.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Ex-fundraiser Huang

gets probation, fine

LOS ANGELES _ Former Democratic fundraiser John Huang pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy for violating campaign finance laws and was sentenced to a year's probation, a $10,000 fine and 500 hours of community service.

The plea was expected but had been delayed by an effort to have Huang, who has been cooperating, testify before Congress.

Huang's attorney, Ty Cobb, said his client would appear before Congress if called.

Huang, a former executive of Indonesia's Lippo Group, was the Democrats' chief fundraiser for the Asian-American community in 1996. He brought in $1.6-million in questionable donations that later were returned.

He was accused of an illegal $2,500 donation to the campaign committee of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Michael Woo in 1993 and an illegal $5,000 donation to California Victory Fund '94 that was shared by Sen. Dianne Feinstein's re-election committee, the Democratic senatorial campaign committee and the state Democratic Party.

Elsewhere . . .

REFUGEE ADMISSIONS: President Clinton has increased the number of refugees to be allowed legal entry into the United States during fiscal 2000 from 78,000 to 90,000, including those who fled Kosovo during the recent conflict.