Paterson Settles Discrimination Suit for $300K

Then-state senator accused of firing white photog to hire black

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted May 1, 2009 12:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – New York Gov. David Paterson won’t have his day in court after all. The state has settled a case brought by a former photographer for the state senate who accused Paterson, then the minority leader, of reverse discrimination, the Post reports. Joseph Maioriello originally sought $1.5 million in a case that was to go to court Monday. He will receive $300,000.

Maioriello, who filed the federal suit in 2005, said a Paterson aide told him he was being fired because several minority senators wanted him replaced with “a black photographer.” But in a sworn deposition, Paterson, who is legally blind, said he couldn’t see Maioriello, 56, well enough to determine his race—a comment Paterson’s spokesman later called “a quip, a joke.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

New York has settled a case in which Gov. David Paterson was accused of reverse discrimination. (AP Photo)

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The state wouldn't have made out very well if it had gone to trial. If nothing wrong happened, why is the state paying out this kind of money? - Source, the New York Post

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

cmenthead

May 1, 2009 8:39 AM CDT

guess he nly pretends to be blind obviously he isn't color blind. definitely discrimination. where is the ny times, where is jesse and al ? oh yeah, blacks can't be racist.

myvoice

May 1, 2009 7:56 AM CDT

freethemall, We seem to do that in our culture.... like SWINE flu, it is the freaking flu! Oh and overweight ... wtf ! how you can be over weight? Everything weighs something! its like saying over height

freethemall

May 1, 2009 6:05 AM CDT

Why is it called "reverse" discrimination if it's discrimination against a person of European descent? Discrimination is just discrimination; there's no need for the modifier "reverse".

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"There is still no such thing as 'reverse discrimination'"
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Politics • Crime & Courts

New York • federal courts • David Paterson • New York state • racial discrimination • Joseph Maioriello

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Paterson Settles Discrimination Suit for $300K