Manager complained about hiring, promotion practices mean to increase diversity
Ed Garsten, The Associated Press (Printed in the Ann Arbor News)
Wednesday, March 27, 2002
NEW YORK - Ford Motor Co. and a manager who filed a discrimination lawsuit have "resolved" the matter, both sides said Tuesday.
The terms of the settlement between the automaker and John Kovacs are confidential, said Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari and Kovac's attorney, James Fett of Pinckney. Both sides said the settlement agreement bars them from commenting on the case.
Kovacs, of Northville, was suspended April 9 from his management position in the Ford Motor Credit human resources department after Fett sent a letter on his behalf to chairman William Clay Ford Jr. asking him to end the company's diversity hiring measures.
Attached to the letter were several internal documents including minutes of human resources committee meetings and lists of employees being considered for promotions or transfers. The automaker charged Kovacs stole confidential documents, but he countered he had a right to them as a human resources manager and they were not confidential.
The letter and papers were put into the public record as part of court documents related to Kovacs's reverse discrimination suit, alleging he was passed over for promotions because he is a white man.
Kovacs has been working in the company's global information center since returning from suspension in July.
As part of the settlement, Ford denied any wrongdoing, and charges of race and gender discrimination were dropped.
