Watch Company Is Fined in Green-Card Suit
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For the first time, an administrative law judge has ruled in a trial that a job applicant is protected from discrimination on the basis of United States citizenship under the Immigration Act. For the first time, an administrative law judge has ruled in a trial that a job applicant is protected from discrimination on the basis of United States citizenship under the Immigration Act. The ruling came in the case of Rosita Martinez, a 50-year-old Puerto Rican, who had complained that a New York City watch wholesaler had refused to hire her unless she produced a permanent resident card, or green card, which is issued to some immigrants. The judge, Marvin H. Morse, found that the wholesaler, the Marcel Watch Corporation, had violated the anti-discrimination provision in the immigration law. He ordered the company to pay Ms. Martinez almost $9,000 in compensation and a civil fine of $1,000 under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Judge Morse issued the ruling on March 22 after a trial at the Department of Justice’s office at Federal Plaza in Manhattan, Government officials said yesterday. Fred Sonnenfeld, a lawyer for the company, said Marcel Watch had not intentionally violated the law. He also said he had tried to reach a settlement last fall but that the Government had refused because it wanted to make the case ”a cause celebre.” More : query.nytimes.com |