Ford settles bias lawsuits

<br>(Detroit-AP) -- Ford has agreed to pay ten and a-half (m) million dollars to settle lawsuits accusing the car maker of age and gender discrimination. <br><br>In a pair of class-action lawsuits, current

Tuesday, December 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Detroit-AP) -- Ford has agreed to pay ten and a-half (m) million dollars to settle lawsuits accusing the car maker of age and gender discrimination.

In a pair of class-action lawsuits, current and former employees charged that the company's management evaluation system was unfairly biased against older, white male employees and deprived them of raises or promotions.

Under the the proposed settlement, Ford is not admitting any wrongdoing.

Each plaintiff in the suits will receive up to 100-thousand dollars, minus attorney fees.

In a statement, the automaker's vice president of human resources, Joe Laymon, says Ford is pleased to resolve a "difficult situation" and is eager to put it in the past.

The evaluation system had been pushed by former Ford CEO Jac Nasser, who resigned under pressure on October 30th.