Female Golfer Awarded $15k In Discrimination Suit
DENNIS (CBS/AP) A champion amateur golfer who filed a federal discrimination suit because she says she was denied a chance to play in a men's tournament at a public course has been awarded $15,000 by a jury.
Elaine Joyce of Yarmouth sued the town of Dennis in 2007, after she was told she couldn't partner with her father in a tournament at the Dennis Pines Golf Course.
The town's attorney, Leonard Kestin, said Joyce was asking for $500,000, so he is satisfied with the $15,000 judgment. Joyce denies the dollar figure.
"Actually I didn't ask for anything," she told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "When you sue, you sue and you leave it up to the jury to come up with an award."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports
Podcast
Kestin said the town tried to negotiate with Elaine Joyce, and that she sued them even after the town changed the rules at the golf course.
"Four months after all women were allowed to play in all tournaments, a federal lawsuit was filed in which she alleged she was not allowed to play," Kestin said.
Joyce said – more lies.
"He says they made numerous attempts to contact me and resolve this. That's an outright lie."
Elaine Joyce said she considers Thursday's decision a victory, and that her primary goal was never financial, but rather ending gender discrimination at public golf courses.
(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
