Jurors mull woman's urination discrimination claim

[March 19, 2009]  NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Jurors in Norfolk are deliberating the discrimination case of a female dock worker who was punished by her union for urinating on the job when a male co-worker who also relieved himself wasn't.

The U.S. District Court jury began deliberations Wednesday in the case of Sonyo Tillett-Bond, who was told to go home after the Oct. 5, 2006, incident at the Portsmouth port.

The 48-year-old woman is seeking damages totaling $300,000 from the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1458.

Her supervisor sent Tillett-Bond home after he heard of the urination incident because of fears of sexual harassment. While she was eventually reinstated by the union, her male co-worker was not punished.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://www.pilotonline.com/

[Associated Press]

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