Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Us West Facing Allegations Of Bias

Compiled From Wire Services

The National Black Chamber of Commerce Thursday filed a lawsuit against US West Inc., claiming the company discriminated against black-owned companies trying to get contracts in its 14-state region.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, seeks $150 million in damages.

Attorneys for the chamber claim in the lawsuit that US West “knowingly and deliberately” excluded African-American businesses from its procurement contract program for companies owned by women and ethnic minorities.

The chamber alleges that US West’s total procurement expenditures in 1995 were approximately $4.3 billion, of which minority businesses received less than 3 percent and black-owned companies received less than 1 percent.

Following a news conference outside company headquarters in downtown Denver, US West spokesman Jeff Garrett called the lawsuit “frivolous.”

“Clearly, what makes this tactic so offensive is that US West is a national leader in affirmative action and doing business with minority businesses. We feel it’s an insult without merit,” Garrett said.