A $1.3 million settlement was reached July 16 in a case between
UCLA and former student David Dixon. Dixon was terminated from his
internship at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine’s
family medicine residency program in 1994.
Two months away from obtaining his medical license, Dixon was
dismissed due to poor performance, according to court records.
Dixon, who is black, felt differently.
He felt that he had been subject to “intentional
discrimination” said Melanie Lomax, Dixon’s
attorney.
Dixon filed a lawsuit against UCLA and the department of family
medicine for alleged employment discrimination, according to a
press release from the University of California Board of
Regents.
As evidence of racism taking place Lomax pointed out that only
three blacks have been admitted into the UCLA residency program in
over 25 years.
“The treatment of Dixon, the double standards applied to
him and the racial hostility were a throwback to the Old South.
There is no explanation “¦ except racial
discrimination,” Lomax said in a press release from her
office.
Dixon currently is a practicing medical researcher, but he does
not believe he ever will become a doctor because of what he has
gone through in the past decade.
He is hopeful things will improve for future black intern
applicants, he said.
“Not everyone at UCLA is racist ““ it is a wonderful
institution that must learn to be more transparent and to hold its
management accountable,” Dixon said.
Dixon added he appreciated the support of certain individuals at
UCLA who stood by him during this time.
Through the past decade, Lomax and Dixon have stood firm by
their case as the university has continued to uphold that no racial
discrimination took place.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court dismissed the lawsuit
twice, and, according to the UC press release, university attorneys
argued there was not enough evidence for a discrimination case.
The state appellate court disagreed, and the California Supreme
Court affirmed its decision.
Though the university settled on July 16 “in recognition
of the uncertainties that any trial can bring “¦ the
university vigorously denies that discrimination played any role in
Dr. Dixon’s time at UCLA,” said university attorney
Christopher Patti in a UC press release.
Ten years is far longer than either side expected the case to
take. Ultimately the university settled “to put this
10-year-old matter where it belongs ““ in the past,”
Patti said in the same press release.
Dixon and Lomax also welcomed the end of the trial.
“I am thankful it is finally over. Ten years is a long
time to try and prove a point,” Dixon said.
As of now the university has no plans to change its admissions
policy for interns, according to the UC press release.
“We take pride in the diversity of this medical school and
believe a diverse environment fosters the best opportunity for
learning,” said Dr. Gerald Levey, vice chancellor of UCLA
Medical Sciences and dean of the medical school, in a UC press
release.