WASHINGTON—A federal judge in Chicago has decided to reconsider an employment discrimination lawsuit against Cingular Wireless L.C.C. that was thrown out of court two weeks ago.
In addition to U.S. District Judge Paul E. Plunkett’s decision to review his Sept. 9 ruling, the court has appointed new counsel for Dennis Moore.
Moore, an African American, alleges racial discrimination in being denied a promotion to purchasing agent at Cingular Wireless.
Similar lawsuits filed by several other African-American men and a Hispanic male—some employees, others former dealers—against Cingular Wireless are also pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The racial allegations against the No. 2 mobile-phone firm—expected soon to win government approval to acquire No. 3 AT&T Wireless Services Inc. for $41 billion—are limited to the Chicago area.
In a ruling in favor of Cingular Wireless, Plunkett said Moore failed to file key documents. Moore subsequently fired his lawyer.
Cingular said it promotes diversity in its workforce, noting that its executive team has been recognized as one of the most diverse in the nation.
On a related front, Kempner Mobile Electronics Inc., a Chicago-based wireless dealer, has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court’s decision denying punitive damages in a jury verdict last year that found fraud and tortious interference against Cingular Wireless.
