TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A federal judge has denied the city of Topeka’s request that the trial in a federal discrimination lawsuit be held in Topeka.
Topeka Zoo veterinarian Shirley Yeo Llizo alleges in her lawsuit that the city discriminated against her when she was fired in October 2009 after federal regulators found several violations at the zoo.
Llizo is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese ancestry. She says other American-born employees of different races and/or genders weren’t fired after the violations were found. The city gave Llizo her job back in August 2010 after an arbitrator ruled the city was wrong in dismissing her.
The city wanted the trial moved from Kansas City, Kan., federal court to Topeka. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the request was denied Friday.
