Legal Advocacy Fund Cases

Case History
A.D., a pediatrician and lung specialist, sued Stanford University for discrimination based on national origin, race, and gender. A.D. worked as a staff physician at Stanford's Children's Hospital from 1995 until February 1998. As the only non-white physician in the pediatric pulmonary division, A.D. says she was paid less than other employees and suffered from disparaging comments about her professionalism. A.D. alleges that she was terminated from her position as clinical assistant professor because she is of East Indian descent and a woman. In July 1997, A.D. received assurances from her superiors that her contract would be renewed. A month later, the acting director of the division met with a group of nurses, including a male nurse whom A.D. had previously accused of sexually harassing her. The next day, Moss told A.D. her contract would not be renewed because, he said, "things were in disarray."

A.D. alleges that during her years at Stanford, the acting director harassed and intimidated her. He impeded her research efforts, embarrassed her in front of other medical personnel, and prevented her from doing her required duties. After he notified her of the termination, A.D. says, he made false and disparaging comments about her to others in the field, including prospective employers and those responsible for her ongoing research at Stanford. A.D. sought redress from the school through several avenues, to no avail. She then filed a lawsuit in California state court in March 1998. 

A.D. reached a settlement with Stanford in November 2000. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

A.D. was one of the 32 current and former female faculty who participated in an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor into Stanford for alleged violations of affirmative action law in hiring, promoting, and retaining female scholars.

Key Case Issues
Sex discrimination, race discrimination