Kansas City Council could pay $1.4 million to settle racial discrimination case

Ronald Williams, who worked as a maintenance electrician in the water department, sued the city in 2018, alleging a pattern of racially motivated discrimination.
The Kansas City Council will vote this week on whether to approve a $1.4 million settlement with a former city employee who sued the city for race discrimination and retaliation.

Ronald Williams, who is Black, was a master electrician in the city’s Water Services Department from June 2011 to January 2017.

His lawsuit detailed a pattern of racially motivated discrimination, alleging that white employees with less experience were offered training courses that allowed them to receive job promotions over otherwise more qualified Black employees.