Texas Southern University did not discriminate against a female assistant dean who said she deserved to make as much money as her male colleagues, a jury determined Thursday afternoon, according to Houston Chronicle
Michele G. Taylor accused TSU of gender discrimination in violation of the Equal Pay Act. Twelve jurors, who began deliberating Thursday morning, disagreed.
Taylor, who has worked at TSU since 1980, filed suit in 2013. The 64-year-old said that she has been paid less than male assistant deans for at least a decade.
Her salary is $71,000 and she has a doctorate. Other less-educated male assistant deans with fewer years of service make more than $80,000.
Attorneys representing the university told jurors that Taylor’s work was not as broad or as highly skilled as other non-teaching administrative assistant deans.
The 2 1/2-day trial began Monday in U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein’s courtroom.