Although a federal jury found in September that the Bear River Association of Governments did not discriminate against former agency director Susan Raymond, a judge has now ruled that her case was not "without foundation."
BRAG asked U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell to order Raymond to pay their legal fees, totaling almost $82,000. But the judge denied the request.
"Although BRAG prevailed on each of Ms. Raymond's claims of discrimination . . . the court finds that (her) case was not frivolous, unreasonable or groundless," Campbell said.
The judge said Raymond raised enough factual questions in her complaint of religious and sexual discrimination to warrant a trial.
A plaintiff can be assessed an opponent's attorney's fees only if the claim itself is found to be frivolous.