Falcons owner settles sex discrimination lawsuit

<p>Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has settled a federal lawsuit filed by a former team executive who claimed she was fired after speaking out against sexual harassment of women staffers.</p><p>Terms of the agreement were not disclosed Wednesday.</p><p>Carol Faubert, 53, of Alpharetta, who was vice president of human resources, claimed in the suit filed in July that Blank condoned a work climate in which female employees were treated as sex objects.</p><p>The lawsuit named the Falcons, Blank and his private investment company, the AMB Group. It also alleged that Blank dismissed Faubert because she had objected to his refusal to hire women with young children and his decision to prohibit certain employees from earning overtime.</p><p>Blank, 60, who co-founded The Home Depot, stepped down as co-chairman of the Atlanta-based company in May 2001. He purchased the Falcons in February 2002.</p><p>Faubert, who joined the Falcons in April 2002, was fired nearly a year later in February 2003.</p><p>In August, Blank indicated that Faubert promised to drop the threat of a lawsuit if she were paid $5 million but said he refused as a matter of principal.</p><p>We have nothing to hide, and well be happy to talk about all the truths and just deal with it, he said at the time.</p><p>Susan Bass, the Falcons vice president for community affairs, said Wednesday that the suit was resolved on terms and conditions that are confidential with no admission of wrongdoing.</p><p>Taylor Jones, one of Fauberts attorneys, said his side was very pleased with the settlement.</p><p>Jones said the agreement was reached before he obtained sworn, pretrial testimony from the Falcons owner.</p><p>I was looking forward to taking Mr. Blanks deposition, but apparently they didnt want that to be done, he said.</p>

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