/ Modified nov 12, 2021 7:40 a.m.

Fired Senate staffer awarded millions in discrimination suit

The aide said she was fired from her job as a policy adviser for state Senate Democrats because of discrimination based on her race and gender.

360 capitol museum phx The Arizona Capitol Museum building at the State Capitol in Phoenix.
AZPM Staff

A jury has awarded $2.75 million to an Arizona legislative staffer who said she was fired from her job as a policy adviser for state Senate Democrats because of discrimination based on her race and gender.

Tuesday's verdict marks the second trial victory for Talonya Adams, a Black woman who acted as her own lawyer and witness.

Adams was awarded $1 million in 2019 and the Senate was ordered to give her job back, but a federal judge ordered a new trial last year.

Adams reported the verdict to KPNX-TV following a three-day trial.

The damages are likely to be reduced at $300,000 because of a cap on federal employment discrimination claims.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona