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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Plaintiff to be removed from Iowa bias case after conviction
Lawyers in a class-action discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of black Iowans who were denied state jobs and promotions are asking to remove a lead plaintiff, one day after she pleaded guilty to embezzling unemployment benefits.
Attorneys filed a motion Thursday seeking permission to remove Linda Pippen as one of 29 class representatives in the lawsuit, which covers up to 6,000 blacks who applied for jobs dating back to 2003.
They say their attorney-client relationship with Pippen has been "irreparably damaged" and other class members believe her continued involvement would be harmful. Pippen has also consented to the move, which needs a judge's approval.
Pippen pleaded guilty to embezzlement and aggravated identity theft, acknowledging she stole $43,000 in unemployment benefits.
Pippen was the first named plaintiff in the lawsuit.
With television reporters looking on, former Iowa Workforce Development employee Linda Pippen gets into her car outside the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. Pippen pleaded guilty to charges that she embezzled $43,000 in unemployment benefits. (AP Photo/Ryan J. Foley)
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