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3 [1] (2006-2007)

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February 24, 2006

Coach Claims Victory in Sex Discrimination Case

A federal judge in the District of New Hampshire has denied a school district's
summary judgment motion in a case where a female lacrosse coach sued the
district for discrimination.

Specifically, the judge held that it was unclear whether the school district's
proffered reason for not renewing (the coach's) contract and not rehiring her
(was) a pretext for sex discrimination. Thus, reviewing the evidence in the light
most favorable to the coach, it denied the motion.

Linda Haytayan was hired by the Nashua School District in March of 1997 to be
the head coach of the girls' lacrosse team. Five years later, Jim Davis was hired as
athletic director and became Haytayan's supervisor.

In July of 2002, Davis gave Haytayan a negative performance evaluation.
Haytayan disputed the contents of the evaluation. Nevertheless, she was informed
in September 2002 that her contract would not be renewed.

Undeterred, Haytayan applied for the position when the opening for the position
was posted in November 2002. She allegedly was never considered. The school
district hired a male administrator for the head coach position in February 2003.

Haytayan sued, claiming the district discriminated against her by treating her
differently than male coaches and for failing to renew her contract or rehire her
for the 2003 season.

The district moved for summary judgment on the basis that Haytayan cannot
establish a prima facie case of sex discrimination and cannot prove that the
proffered reason for not renewing her contract was a pretext for discrimination.

Haytayan presented two claims under Title VII: one of disparate treatment and
one based on the school district's failure to consider her application and rehire her
as head lacrosse coach.

The coach based her disparate treatment claim on the following alleged facts:

1. She was denied the right to discipline team members who attended a party
involving underage drinking in the spring of 2002. In contrast, the boys' lacrosse
coach was permitted to administer appropriate punishment to his team members

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