EX-PRISON GUARD AWARDED $200,000 IN JOB LOSS

MUSKOGEE -- A federal jury has awarded a former prison guard at the John
Lilley Correctional Center more than $200,000 in a so-called reverse
discrimination lawsuit.

The eight-member jury -- consisting of one black man, four white men and
three white women -- ruled Monday that the firing of Glen A. Goodwin, a
white man, was racially motivated.

The jury's special verdict found that the Department of Corrections failed
to prove it would have discharged Goodwin regardless of race.

The jury awarded Goodwin $25,000 in back wages, minus wages Goodwin earned
from other employment after his dismissal; $135,000 in wages he would have
earned if he had not been fired; and $50,000 in damages for emotional pain
and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of reputation.

Goodwin's termination stems from his arrest for misdemeanor possession of
marijuana and drug paraphernalia March 5, 1997, after being stopped by a
Highway Patrol trooper for speeding.

Goodwin reported the arrest to his supervisor and was subsequently
suspended with pay from March 11, 1997, through April 7, 1997.

After a "6-minute" pre-termination hearing March 27, 1997, Goodwin received
a letter on March 31, 1997, notifying him of his termination, effective
April 1, for "unprofessional conduct."

But Goodwin claimed his dismissal was unfair, and that black employees at
the prison were never fired for similar or more serious offenses.

Goodwin's complaint claimed that during his nearly 12 years at the Lilley
prison the "DOC (gave) blatant preferential treatment to African-American
employees arrested for similar misdemeanor offenses and more serious felony
offenses and have not been terminated for alleged unprofessional conduct or
any other reason."

The complaint also stated that Goodwin was dismissed before a court
determined guilt or innocence and at a time when no black employee had been
fired for similar alleged criminal violations, and that his dismissal was
racially motivated.

The prison is located in Boley, a predominantly black community, and many
of the prison employees, supervisory staff and its warden are black.

After exhausting all remedies at the state level, Goodwin gave the U.S.
Department of Justice last November notice of his intention to sue, and on
Feb. 2 filed his lawsuit.

Goodwin's attorney, Stanley Ward of Norman, said the trooper found less
than half an ounce of marijuana.

The attorney said there were four black prison employees who had "extensive
criminal records" who were never investigated or terminated.

"I think the (jury's) message is pretty clear. According to Goodwin's
petition, he received promotions during his tenure at Lilley and received
only one reprimand," Ward said.

Jerry Massie, public information officer with the DOC, said the agency has
10 days to decide whether to file an appeal.

Linda Martin can be reached at 581-8381.