With supporters lining the courtroom, the three former Dental School employees suing the University for racism appeared in court today for the opening day of their civil trial.
Dawn Mitchell, Theresa Atkins and Delano Isabelle - three black Dental School instrument technicians - filed suit in January 1995, claiming supervisor Linda Vachon fired them on grounds of discrimination. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation from the University.
Washtenaw County District Court Judge Donald Shelton presided over yesterday's jury selection and the plaintiffs' opening arguments. Shelton said he expected the trial to continue into next week.
In his opening statement, plaintiff attorney George Washington said Mitchell, Atkins and Isabelle were the victims of racism.
"I think that we as a people like to think that something like that happens somewhere in the backwoods - like Mississippi or Alabama," Washington said. "But not in a place like the U-M."
The plantiffs contend that the Dental School had a racist environment where employees and supervisors freely used the words "you people" in reference to blacks.
Tim Howlett, a University attorney, maintained that Vachon fired the three plaintiffs because they forged time cards.
University officials could not speak about the specifics of the trial due to a gag order imposed by Shelton, said Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison.
But Harrison said the University wants to maintain an environment that is comfortable for all people.
"Our goal (as a University) is to be totally free of racism," Harrison said.
Washington said witnesses, including doctors, Dental School employees and community members, will testify that his clients were the victims of discrimination.
In August and September 1994, Mitchell, Atkins and Isabelle were transferred from working at University Hospitals to the Dental School, where they sterilized dental instruments. On Dec. 2, 1994, the three were fired by Vachon.
One year later, the three employees were rehired by the University after a period of arbitration between University officials and the plaintiffs.
Mitchell, who is currently on medical leave, claims her new position caused her chronic pain. She worked for the University for 9 1/2 years before the firing.
Isabelle, who spent 13 years with the University before the firing, said the incident landed him in the emergency room after he attempted suicide.
Atkins was employed for 13 1/2 years before her dismissal. She claims she has suffered emotionally since her firing and has had to seek psychiatric help.
Inside the courthouse yesterday, Shelton presided over jury selection. By 11:30 a.m. the eight-member jury had been selected.
Beforehand, members of the National Women's Rights Organizing Coalition demonstrated outside the court entrance with signs and fliers in support of the workers.
LSA senior and NWROC member Jessica Curtin said she supported the workers because they were "willing to stand up and fight."
"We do see it necessary to fight racism and sexism at the U-M," Curtin said.
Terry Sexais, a member of NWROC and the Homeless Power Union, said he participated in the rally because racism needs to be fought worldwide.
"We all live in the same planet and do the same thing day-in and day-out - no matter what part of the planet we come from," Sexais said.
The trial will resume this morning at 8 a.m. with Howlett's opening statement for the University.
JENNIFER BRADLEY-SWIFT/Daily
Plaintiffs in the case of racism against the University consult with legal counsel in the halls of the Washtenaw County court. Their race discrimination trial against the University began yesterday.