
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 3, 1995                   TAG: 9506060098
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

SHIPYARD SUIT ALLOWED, BUT NARROWED

A federal magistrate has opened the door for black workers at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard to pursue a race discrimination lawsuit against the Navy.

However, the ruling by U.S. Magistrate Tommy E. Miller limited the scope of the $58 million claim.

In a 33-page opinion, Miller recommended dismissing most of the workers' complaints - seven of 10 - because of procedural errors and a lack of supporting evidence.

But Miller also concluded that parts of the case should go to trial, including allegations that the government-owned shipyard forced blacks into low-level jobs because of their race.

``I was hoping, obviously, we would win everything,'' said Thomas F. Hennessy, a Chesapeake attorney. ``But the important thing is to get the case to trial. That is going to happen now.''

by CNB