The Chicago Bears have settled a discrimination lawsuit filed by Jonathan Bresser Jr., a DePaul University law student, who accused the team of racial and gender discrimination after being rejected for a “legal diversity fellow” position. The settlement was reached following a conference in Illinois federal court on Tuesday, with a notice filed Wednesday confirming the deal.
Allegations of Discriminatory Hiring Practices
Bresser’s lawsuit, filed earlier this year, alleged that he was denied the fellowship because he is a white male. The job posting indicated that the Bears were seeking candidates who were either “a person of color and/or female law student,” as well as someone with confidentiality, research, and writing skills. Bresser argued that, despite his qualifications, he was overlooked after a Bears employee viewed his LinkedIn profile, which features a photo of him, leading to a rejection based on his race and gender.
Bresser claimed the Bears’ decision to hire a candidate who was not a white male was discriminatory. “The only listed qualification in the Bears’ job posting not plausibly met by plaintiff is the requirement that an applicant be a ‘person of color and/or female law student,'” he stated in his complaint.
Chicago Bears Hiring Bias : Swift Settlement
The Bears never formally responded to Bresser’s allegations in court, as both parties quickly entered into settlement negotiations. The case was fast-tracked toward resolution, with the Bears noting in a motion that they sought to avoid unnecessary legal expenses and preserve judicial resources.
Chicago Bears Hiring Bias : Legal Representation
Bresser was represented by Marc P. Trent of the Trent Law Firm PC, while the Chicago Bears were represented by Renee L. Koehler, Stephanie M. Dinkel, and Jeanette Sublett of Neal & Leroy LLC.
