Ex-Coach at CSU Fresno wins $5.85 million for sex bias.

Last month's civil trial in Fresno CA had all the earmarks of a soap opera, in which non-renewed former volleyball coach Lindy Vivas sued California State University Fresno for $4.1 million for sex discrimination. The jury was not amused by the descriptions of outrageous antics of the athletics department, awarding Vivas even more than she had requested: $5.85 million.

Vivas had coached the women's volleyball team from 1990 to 2004, becoming the winningest coach ever at Fresno, including a 59-27 record in her last three years.

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Yet her contract was not renewed in 2004, which she said was because of her advocacy for female athletes and her perceived sexual orientation. Trials by two other women suing the Fresno athletics department for sex bias are scheduled for this fall.

Alarmed at the cost of this case and future ones to taxpayers, California lawmakers plan to investigate whether there is widespread gender bias in the CSU system. State Senator Don Perata, a Democrat who chairs the senate rules committee, expects to form a special investigative subcommittee with power to convene hearings and subpoena witnesses.

California's public institutions cannot be sued for punitive damages, so the award of $5.85 million is classified as covering lost pay and emotional distress. The jury was especially moved by photos of Vivas in the Fresno media guide before she was fired, compared to how she looked in the courtroom.

Fresno officials plan to appeal the verdict and file a motion to reduce the amount of the award.