Golf Pro’s Discrimination Suit Revived

Sat., Feb. 11, 1995

William Miller Staff writer

Golf pro Patti Marquis’ 4-year-old sex-discrimination lawsuit against the city of Spokane has been revived.

A Spokane County judge shouldn’t have tossed out the case, a Washington Court of Appeals ruled this week.

That means the city is again facing a trial - and more than $2 million in potential damages for allegedly underpaying Marquis while she was the club pro at Downriver Golf Course.

“It’s been dragging, but I feel great about getting our case heard by a jury,” Marquis said Friday.

“We’re very happy. We sure think she’s got an excellent case,” said her lawyer, Scott Miller.

Marquis, 38, claims she was paid substantially less than male pros running other city-owned golf courses.

After she complained of gender bias, she said she was harassed by city officials.

The city hasn’t decided whether or not to petition the state Supreme Court for review.

If that action isn’t taken in 30 days, the lawsuit will bounce back to Spokane County Superior Court for a jury trial.

In November 1992, Superior Court Judge Marcus Kelly dismissed the lawsuit, claiming state law doesn’t specifically prohibit discrimination against independent contractors.

The Division III Appeals Court in Spokane disagreed.

In a unanimous decision Thursday, the court found ample evidence to support the discrimination claim, including city documents showing Marquis was paid up to $60,000 less over three years than the male pros.

Marquis was recruited by the city in 1986.

She signed a three-year contract putting her in charge of the Downriver course, clubhouse, restaurant, coffee shop, pro shop and practice range.

Her contract expired Dec. 31, 1989. The city, accusing Marquis of poor performance, offered a one-year extension, which she refused.

Marquis filed her lawsuit in March 1991.

Spokane Parks Director Frank McCoy, a defendant in the case, has repeatedly denied the discrimination and harassment charges. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Attempts to reach attorney Tom Kingen, the city’s special counsel, were unsuccessful.

As Spokane’s first woman golf pro, Marquis claimed she increased revenue at Downriver more than 40 percent in her three years on the job.

Today, she is a teaching pro at Painted Hills Golf Course, a privately owned course in the Spokane Valley.

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