Legal Advocacy Fund Cases
Melez v. University of California, Los Angeles
Case History
Kathleen Melez, a former assistant professor in biology, sued the University of California, Los Angeles in 1993 for wrongful termination, sex discrimination, retaliation, and defamation.
Melez joined UCLA in 1990 to complete a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases. The fellowship was to last for about two to three years, after which it was understood and agreed that she would be accepted into UCLA’s microbiology and immunology doctoral program. During her fellowship year, Melez charges, her male colleagues created a hostile work environment that prevented her from carrying out her job responsibilities. In 1991, she applied to the doctorate program with the recommendation of her supervisor. Her supervisor withdrew his support, however, after Melez described the sexual harassment she faced in the lab.
Melez subsequently filed an internal grievance with UCLA for the sexual harassment and retaliation, but the university failed to take any corrective action. She not only suffered loss of employment but also was denied admission into the university doctoral program for which she had previously been recommended. In addition, Melez, who received her fellowship on the condition that she would continue her academic research for two years, was denied the opportunity to complete the two years and now must repay the $50,000 stipend.
Melez filed suit in federal court in October 1993. Her case was dismissed by the district court in 2001, and she consequently pursued an appeal of the court’s decision regarding an individual defendant named in the suit.
Key Case Issues
Wrongful termination, sex discrimination, retaliation, defamation