City Attorney Who Filed Sex Bias Lawsuit Resigns

A Pasadena assistant city attorney suing the city over alleged sex discrimination along with other female staff lawyers has resigned.

Attorney Ann H. Higginbotham’s departure on Wednesday came two days after the City Council announced that it wants to hire Cheryl Ward as its first permanent city attorney since the 1995 lawsuit by four female staff lawyers. Ward is a Los Angeles senior assistant attorney.

A city employee for the last 14 years, Higginbotham offered no explanation for her departure, city officials said.

Higginbotham did not return telephone calls.

The departure of Higginbotham comes as key motions that could decide the discrimination suit are to be ruled upon.

The City Council at one time had been willing to offer Higginbotham a $500,000 settlement in return for her retirement, according to council members. The offer was withdrawn after another of the lawyers who was suing refused to settle.

Higginbotham and attorneys Ann S. Rider, Carolyn Y. Williams and Julia L. Weston alleged that former City Atty. Victor Kaleta discriminated against them by failing to include them in a round of promotions three years earlier. Kaleta denied the allegations. He resigned in August 1994 after coming under fire from civil rights groups.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will rule on March 21 on their claims against the city, said Corinne Franzen, the city’s legal counsel. If the claims are not dismissed, a trial will be held in September, she said.